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.com's cameras took the trip backstage to join in on all the "razzle dazzle" birthday festivities! On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, CHICAGO will reach yet another major milestone when it becomes the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history, surpassing Beauty and the Beast with a total of 5,462 performances!
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 acclamied 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.
Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information, including details for CHICAGO's new "Lucky 13 Giveaway," an enter-to-win contest with prizes including boxed CD/DVD sets, show tickets, autographed posters and much more.
CHICAGO plays on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). The regular weekly performance schedule is as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m.;
Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
CHICAGO celebrates 13 years on Broadway!
Donna Marie Asbury and Dan LoBuono
Ray Bokhour, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Walter Bobbie, Bonnie Langford and Deidre Goodwin
Ray Bokhour, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Walter Bobbie, Bonnie Langford and Deidre Goodwin
Ray Bokhour, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Walter Bobbie, Bonnie Langford and Deidre Goodwin
Bonnie Langford, Ray Bokhour and Kecia Lewis-Evans
Bonnie Langford, Ray Bokhour and Kecia Lewis-Evans
Nili Bassman, Nicole Bridgewater and Melissa Rae Mahon
Ray Bokhour, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Walter Bobbie, Bonnie Langford, Deidre Goodwin and Brent Barrett
Donna Marie Asbury
Ray Bokhour, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Walter Bobbie, Bonnie Langford, Deidre Goodwin and Brent Barrett
