On Saturday, November 14, 2009, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning, smash-hit musical CHICAGO celebrated its 13th anniversary on The Great White Way. BroadwayWorld gave the musical's star, Deidre Goodwin, a FLIP video camera and set her loose backstage during performances, and wait until you see what 'Velma' was able to create for your viewing pleasure, but we won't tell, so go watch now!
After a six-year hiatus, Deidre returned to the role of Velma Kelly this September following her most-recent appearance on Broadway as Sheila in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. Her other Broadway credits include Nine, The Boys from Syracuse, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Rocky Horror Show. Goodwin also appeared in the original Broadway production of Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life and created the role of Velma in Never Gonna Dance.
The revival of CHICAGO began its journey to becoming an international, billion-dollar stage success in the summer of 1996. After its celebrated rediscovery at City Center Encores!, the production opened to rave reviews on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14, 1996, with a phenomenal cast headlined by Ann Reinking as Roxie Hart, Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly, Tony Award winner James Naughton as Billy Flynn and Joey Grey as Amos Hart.
CHICAGO then transferred to the Shubert Theatre on February 11, 1997. Nearly six years later, on January 29, 2003, it transferred a second time to its current Broadway home, the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, CHICAGO has become a worldwide theatrical phenomenon. The acclaimed London production continues to hold the record as the longest-running American musical in West End history, and will celebrate 12 years there in December. With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording. Directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, CHICAGO features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer.
