CHICAGO Welcomes Its Six Millionth Audience Member

This past Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the Broadway production of the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO celebrated yet another milestone when it welcomed its six millionth audience member through the doors of the Ambassador Theatre.

"It's remarkable to know that to-date, more than 24 million people have experienced a production of CHICAGO somewhere in the world," said producer Barry Weissler. "And now, a quarter of them have seen it right here on Broadway, where it all began 14 years ago."

With more than 5,600 performances, CHICAGO is currently the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history.

The Broadway 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 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 Joel Grey as Amos Hart.

The Broadway production now stars Ruthie Henshall as Roxie Hart, Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly, Matthew Settle as Billy Flynn, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart and Terri White as Matron "Mama" Morton.

In addition to Broadway, CHICAGO is currently enjoying a successful tour throughout North America, with upcoming engagements set for Jacksonville, Columbus, Orlando, Memphis and more.

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.

CHICAGO can also now be seen in Madrid, Hong Kong and Amsterdam. Next month, CHICAGO will launch its fourth return engagement in Tokyo, Japan. A return engagement is slated for 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.

Photo credit: Paul Kolnik