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 will celebrate its 13th anniversary on The Great White Way.
Two months later, 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!
"It is such an unbelievable thrill to mark these two amazing milestones," said CHICAGO producer
Barry Weissler. "With each passing year, I am constantly amazed by the overwhelming love that audiences have for our show, and it's remarkable to see that loved expressed performance after performance, all over the world. In the past 13 years, we've played in 24 countries and in 11 different langauges for more than 18 million people. It's truly extraordinary."
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.).
The Broadway production now stars British stage sensation
Bonnie Langford as Roxie Hart,
Deidre Goodwin as Velma Kelly,
Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn and
Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart.
In addition to Broadway, CHICAGO is currently enjoying a successful tour throughout North America, with upcoming engagements set for Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Cleveland, Los Angeles and many more.
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.
CHICAGO can also be seen on tour through the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as upcoming productions in Holland (opening November 15, 2009), Spain (opening November 26, 2009) and Korea (opening December 17, 2009).
International return engagements are slated for Japan in 2010 and Sweden in 2011.
Other previous international engagements include productions in Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and most recently, Thailand.
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.
Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago's slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today's tabloids.
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. In celebration of the 13th anniversary, this 13-day contest begins on Sunday, November 1.
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.
