Chicago The Musical Blog

SUZANNE SHAW AND SARAH SOETAERT RETURNS TO THE WEST END STAGE

Suzanne Shaw, who has just won the ITV television series “Dancing on Ice”, will return to the West End stage to star as ‘Roxie Hart’ in the smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” at the Cambridge Theatre on Monday 2 June for six weeks only (finishing on 12 July). Her other television credits include “The Bill”, “City Central” and “Holby City”. A member of Hear’Say (the original winners of television’s “Popstars”), Suzanne has had several hit singles.

Sarah Soetaert, who played the role of ‘Roxie Hart’ with great success last year, will return to star in the smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” for a five-week season from Monday 28 April to Saturday 31 May. Rachel McDowall will continue to star as ‘Velma Kelly’, with Terence Maynard as ‘Billy Flynn’ and Paul Rider as ‘Amos Hart’. Claudia Shear plays ‘Mama Morton’.

“CHICAGO” currently stars Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as ‘Roxie Hart’, Rachel McDowall as ‘Velma Kelly’, Terence Maynard as ‘Billy Flynn’, Paul Rider as ‘Amos Hart’ and Claudia Shear as ‘Mama Morton’.

The London production of “CHICAGO” has just celebrated its tenth anniversary with a Charity Gala Performance, which took place on Wednesday 5 December.  The smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.  The Cambridge Theatre was the London home of “CHICAGO”, when the first production of the show opened there on 10 April 1979, running for 603 performances.  “CHICAGO” became the longest running production ever to play at the Adelphi Theatre on 17 October 2005, replacing the previous record holder “Me and My Girl”, which had run for 3,303 performances.  

Chicago - Backstage blog - Video 2

Part 2 of behind the scenes of the London production of Chicago.

BIRGITTE HJORT SØRENSEN TO STAR AS ‘ROXIE HART’

Birgitte Hjort Sørensen will star as ‘Roxie Hart’ and Rachel McDowall will star as ‘Velma Kelly’ in the smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” at the Cambridge Theatre from 25 February. Terence Maynard will continue to star as ‘Billy Flynn’ and Paul Rider as ‘Amos Hart’, with Zee Asha as ‘Mama Morton’ and MM Dugdale as ‘Mary Sunshine’.

Birgitte Hjort Sørensen played ‘Roxie Hart’ in the Copenhagen production of “CHICAGO” last year to great acclaim. She has also played in Danish productions of “The Winter’s Tale” and “Cabaret”. Rachel McDowall starred as ‘Ulla’ in the West End production of “The Producers” and will shortly be seen playing ‘Lisa’ in the film of “Mamma Mia”.

The London production of “CHICAGO” has just celebrated its tenth anniversary with a Charity Gala Performance, which took place on Wednesday 5 December.  The smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.  The Cambridge Theatre was the London home of “CHICAGO”, when the first production of the show opened there on 10 April 1979, running for 603 performances.  “CHICAGO” became the longest running production ever to play at the Adelphi Theatre on 17 October 2005, replacing the previous record holder “Me and My Girl”, which had run for 3,303 performances.

Chicago - Backstage blog

Behind the scenes at the London production of Chicago.

BONNIE LANGFORD, DUNCAN JAMES & BRENDA EDWARDS

“CHICAGO” EXTENDS ITS BOOKING PERIOD UNTIL 28 FEBRUARY 2009

Bonnie Langford and Brenda Edwards have both extended their starring runs as ‘Roxie Hart’ and ‘Mama Morton’ in the smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” at the Cambridge Theatre by four weeks, until 24 February, and Duncan James has extended his starring run as ‘Billy Flynn’ by two weeks, until 10 February. Amra-Faye Wright and Paul Rider will continue to play the starring roles of ‘Velma Kelly’ and ‘Amos Hart’ until 24 February.

A new booking period covering 28 July 2008 – 28 February 2009 will go on sale on Monday 28 January.

The London production of “CHICAGO” has just celebrated its tenth anniversary with a Charity Gala Performance, which took place on Wednesday 5 December.  The smash hit West End musical “CHICAGO” transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.  The Cambridge Theatre was the London home of “CHICAGO”, when the first production of the show opened there on 10 April 1979, running for 603 performances.  “CHICAGO” became the longest running production ever to play at the Adelphi Theatre on 17 October 2005, replacing the previous record holder “Me and My Girl”, which had run for 3,303 performances. 

“CHICAGO” opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit.  "CHICAGO" won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'.  Currently playing in New York, with forthcoming productions planned in Japan, Australia and South Africa, "CHICAGO" is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

"CHICAGO", which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke.  Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher and musical direction by Ian Townsend.  "CHICAGO" is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.  The West End production of "CHICAGO" is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team.

Chicago 10th Anniversary - promo

Chicago - The Musical 10th Anniversary Charity Gala

Chicago - 10th Anniversary Party

The smash-hit musical CHICAGO has just celebrated 10 glittering years in the West End.

Already the longest running American musical ever to play in London, this multi-award winning International production is filled with sexy, sassy and sensational choreography inspired by Bob Fosse and a sizzling score including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Razzle Dazzle.

It’s no wonder The Times calls it ‘The sharpest, slickest show on the block.’

A nightclub dancer… a smooth-talking lawyer… and a cell block of sin. It would be a crime to miss it. 

‘Still London's sexiest, most sensational musical’ Sunday Express, December 2007

DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW that CHICAGO has been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian and French?

DID YOU KNOW that there are cast recordings of CHICAGO in English (U.S. and U.K.), German and Dutch?

DID YOU KNOW that CHICAGO has grossed over £120 million in London since it opened in 1997, and grossed over $850 million worldwide?

DID YOU KNOW that the many stars that have starred in the London company of CHICAGO have included Ruthie Henshall, Ute Lemper, Joel Grey, Maria Friedman, Sacha Distel, Chita Rivera, Denise Van Outen, Marti Pellow, Peter Davison, Claire Sweeney, Michael Greco, Jennifer Ellison, Jill Halfpenny, Kevin Richardson, Les Denis, Brooke Shields, Bonnie Langford, Clive Rowe, Gaby Roslin, David Hasselhoff, John Barrowman, Ashlee Simpson, Michael French, Aoife Mulholland, Anita Dobson, Darius Danesh, Lynda Carter, Ian Kelsey, Tina Arena, Leigh Zimmerman, Tony Hadley, Henry Goodman, Nigel Planer, Alison Moyet, Maxwell Caulfield and Duncan James.

DID YOU KNOW that CHICAGO received 6 Tony Awards (including Best Musical Revival), 5 Drama Desk Awards, 5 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, 1 1998 Critics Circle Award, 1 Olivier Award (Outstanding Musical Production), 1 Grammy Award (for Original Cast Recording), 2 Astaire Awards, 1 Drama League Award, 2 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, 2 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards, 2 L.A. Ovation Awards, 1 Helen Hayes Award, 1 Black Theatre Alliance Award, 7 E.W. Awards, 2 Joseph Jefferson Awards and 1 Elliott Norton Award for the Broadway, West End and US Touring Companies?

DID YOU KNOW that CHICAGO received 3 ACE Awards, 3 El Heraldo Awards, 3 Asociacion Mexicana de Criticos de Teatro Awards, 2 Helpman Awards, 4 Guldmasken Awards, and 2 Premio Qualidade Brasil Awards for its international productions?

DID YOU KNOW that CHICAGO has played worldwide since its opening in 1996 in the following countries: England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Russia, South Africa, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates?

DID YOU KNOW that CHICAGO has played over 16,000 performances worldwide?

DID YOU KNOW that an estimated 17 million people around the world have seen CHICAGO?

DID YOU KNOW that the London Production has used over 14, 871 pairs of tights, 581 metres of fishnet fabric, 871 metres of black lace fabric, 2,321 litres of washing up liquid, 760 pairs of men's socks, 136, 520 hairpins and 9,666 hair grips!