West End favourite Ruthie Henshall will become the first British actress to play all three female leading roles in Chicago when she joins Hollywood star Cuba Gooding Jr in the multi award-winning show, returning to the West End for the first time in over five years next month.
Henshall, who originated the role of Roxie Hart when Chicago first opened in the West End in 1997 and went on to play both Roxie and later Velma Kelly on Broadway before returning to the role of Roxie in 2009, will now step into the role of Mama Morton.
Appearing alongside Oscar winner Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire) who makes his British stage and musical debut as Billy Flynn, Henshall will be joined Sarah Soetaert (Carousel, Fame) who returns to the role of Roxie Hart she previously played at the Cambridge and Garrick Theatres. Another former Roxie Hart, Josefina Gabrielle (Oklahoma! The Witches of Eastwick) will be the production’s Velma Kelly, after previously playing Roxie at the Adelphi and Cambridge Theatres.
Further casting has yet to be announced for the production which is based on the 1996 Broadway revival directed by Walter Bobbie with choreography by by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.
Following on from a successful UK and international tour and after a five and half year absence from London, Chicago will begin performances at the Phoenix Theatre on 26 March. The production is currently booking until 23 June.
Based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, Chicago has a book by Fred Ebb and Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and ran for 15 highly successful years in the West End.
The production claimed the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production and the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for Best Musical. Chicago is currently playing in New York where it recently celebrated its 21st birthday. The show is now the world’s longest-running American musical.
Angela Thomas
Tickets for Chicago are available HERE
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.