The casting of Chicago periodically brings in unusual celebrities which help to give the show legs, e.g. Jerry Springer. Billed as London’s Sexiest Musical
** Book Chicago Theatre Breaks in London **
Chicago – New Roxy announced May 26, 2009
Posted by Linda in : cast changes, chicago , add a commentMichelle Williams is Chicago’s new Roxy
New Chicago star Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (ex-Destiny’s Child) is to make her West End stage debut starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
The US singer will appear at London’s Cambridge Theatre from July 13 until August 22.
Michelle first made her name with Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland in Destiny’s Child.
She released a solo album in 2002. She made her stage debut in the title role in the musical Aida on Broadway .
She has also played Shug Avery in the musical of The Color Purple, in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Michelle got very good reviews for her performance in the tour and I think it bodes very well for her time in Chicago.
Here she is at the 2006 Tony’s with the rest of the cast. (BTW doesn’t this sound like a great musical. I’d love to see it come here!)
Chicago – Jerry Springer to play Flynn February 19, 2009
Posted by Linda in : cast changes, chicago , add a commentJerry Springer will join the West End cast of Chicago in June. He will play the role of Billy Flynn for a six weeks. Springer is originally from London and best known for presenting the The Jerry Springer Show. He will join the cast at the Cambridge Theatre from Monday, June 1 until July 11.
Jerry Springer replaces Ian Kelsey as Billy Flynn. Aoife Mulholland andTiffany Graves will continue in their roles as Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly.
Chicago is the longest-running Broadway musical in the West End and has been on for 11 years now. A policy of regular and interesting cast changes has helped to ensure the continuing popularity of London’s sexiest musical.
Chicago – Who’s the next Roxie? July 30, 2008
Posted by Linda in : cast changes, chicago , add a commentKelly Price will be the next Roxie Hart in Chicago for an 8 week run from September 1 until October 25.
Kelly Price’s West End Credits
No newcomer Kelly has been in two major West End productions already:
Guys and Dolls – Sarah Brown
Mamma Mia! – Sophie
London’s Chicago musical with Free Hotel July 29, 2008
Posted by Andy in : chicago, midweek, offers , add a commentChicago in London – Free Hotel
Chicago the hit musical in London is part of a great summer sale which includes a one night hotel stay in the price of the tickets. As one of the shows qualifying for the free hotel offer with midweek London theatre breaks in August 2008, this means you can get an inclusive theatre and hotel deal with top tickets to see Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre for as little as £52.50 per person, and this includes a one night stay in a three star hotel in London.
For more details, read the London Hotel Deals page here at London theatre breaks or else head straight on over to book now
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Suzanne Shaw is Roxie in London’s Chicago from June 1st 2008
Suzanne Shaw from Dancing on Ice to star in Chicago April 3, 2008
Posted by admin in : chicago , add a commentYet another reality TV show winner with a theatre related background prepares to perform on the West End stage, pulling in the new audiences. And why not.
Playbill News: Shaw Will Be Roxie Hart in London’s Chicago Beginning June 2
The winner of ITV’s recent “Dancing on Ice” series, pop singer Suzanne Shaw, will return to the West End stage to star as Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre beginning June 2.Shaw will appear in the show for six weeks only, with her run ending on July 12.
Theatre Breaks in London – Chicago November 26, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals, chicago , 1 comment so farMusicals make great theatre breaks in London and December marks the 10th Birthday of one of the best of them.
Facts and Figures
Chicago is the longest running Broadway musical on the West End. In London it has played to an audience of over 4.5 million people and more than 4,000 performances. The musical transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April last year. Based on a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins with a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. The musicis by John Kander and the lyrics by Fred Ebb. The West End production is staged by the original Broadway creative team. The show is booking until 27 July 2008.
After it opened, almost 10 years ago, the show won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ and the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’.
Cast Changes
One of the ways they keep the musical fresh is by bringing in interesting new cast members. This time a few people are revisiting familiar roles.
Frances Ruffelle plays the female lead, Roxy. Frances is a familiar face on the London musical stage. She was in Starlight Express and went on to star as Eponine. Though then unknown outside of the West End, she and Colm Wilkinson were invited took the show to its Broadway launch. She won multiple awards (including the Tony) for her role. We’ll quickly gloss over her 1994 Eurovision offering! She’s played Roxy before and it will be interesting to see how she tackles it this time.
Terence Maynard makes a welcome return as Billy Flynn. It’s a far cry from his role in EastEnders!
Sue Kelvin also returns as Mama Morton, the prison matron, the part taken by Queen Latifa in the film version. She’s played this role on stage before and is unlikely to suffer the sort of nerves that dogged Kelly Osbourne. On the other hand she’s unlikely to fit into Kelly’s glam costumes either! Kelly suffered from terrible stage fright and recently admitted that she was so scared on the first night she was almost sick on stage. She certainly looked trim and gorgeous in the publicity shots but some people have suggested these might have been airbrushed (shock horror!). Still I’ve long suspected that appearing nightly in a musical might be the ultimate weight loss regime so who knows!
How to get there
The Cambridge Theatre is on Earlham Street, London, WC2 9HU It is in the area near Covent Garden now known as Seven Dials. The best route is to walk from Tottenham Court Rd, if you have to use the tube, or Charing Cross station if you can get a train. Alternatively try to make sure you get a hotel within easy walking distance of the Covent Garden area. Actually that’s good advice anyway as the area is great 
There are lots of shops to browse, cafes and restaurants to eat in, it’s one of my favourite areas of London and deserves a section of theatre breaks in London all to itself!
Thanks for reading London Theatre Breaks articles about chicago
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