Miss USA Tara Conner to Join Chicago as Roxie Hart?

According to the New York Post's Michael Riedel, disgraced beauty queen Tara Conner is in preparations to play Roxie Hart in the smash Broadway revival of Chicago.

Conner, who was recently in danger of losing her Miss USA crown after the disclosure of substance abuse problems, is currently rehearsing to play the merry murderess - although she will not officially cast as Roxie until she has proven she's up to the task.  "Fran and Barry Weissler, the producers of the long-running revival, are not about to take a chance on her until they're confident she can handle the demands of a Broadway show, production sources said," states the article.  Conner's singing is reportedly strong, although her dancing and acting are said to need improvement.

"Assuming both sides are comfortable, then this will be a win-win for all parties. We look forward to making a positive announcement about her joining the Chicago family," stated Barry Weissler. 

If cast, Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump - whose pardon of Conner's excesses was a hot topic late last year - will join Conner at a press conference to announce the casting.  If accepted in the role, she will most likely join Chicago in the spring.

Chicago currently stars Philip Casnoff as Billy Flynn, Roz Ryan as Mama Morton, Rob Bartlett as Amos Hart and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine, with Bebe Neuwirth and Brenda Braxton as rival merry murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively.

Chicago, which opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14th 1996, has reached a run of over 4,200 performances at the Ambassador Theatre (215 W. 49th St.); the show will celebrate its 10 year anniversary in November. Chicago received 6 1997 Tonys (including Best Revival of a Musical) under the direction of Walter Bobbie and the choreography of star Ann Reinking. The revival, based on Bobbie's stylistically stripped-down Encores! staging, featured direction and choreography by Bob Fosse in its original 1975 production. Chicago features a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse.

For more information on Chicago, visit www.chicagothemusical.com. For tickets, call Telecharge at 212 239 6200, or visit www.telecharge.com.