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Obba Babatunde Returns to CHICAGO as Billy Flynn, 1/10 - 1/17
By: Jessica Lewis Jan. 07, 2010
Stage and screen star Obba Babatunde will return to the CHICAGO stage next week as Billy Flynn while Brent Barrett (who re-assumed the role last fall) is on vacation. His run will last from January 10 - January 17. Brent Barrett will return on January 18.
Obba Babatunde is most recognized for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, a Tony Award-nominated role for his Broadway performance as C.C. White in the original cast of Dreamgirls. Some of his other noted theatrical stage performances have been in Hal Prince's Grind; as the originator of the role of jazz artist Jelly Roll Morton in Jelly's Last Jam, and for his recent Broadway reprisal of Billy Flynn in Chicago in the Japan and US tours of 2005 & 2006.
For others he is recognized as the wealthy father in the now syndicated television comedy series "Half & Half," but that work coincides with repeated 2007 appearances on "The Young and the Restless" and is overshadowed by his riveting and piercing performances in a two episode role as Dr. Stanley Rivers in this year's season of "Boston Legal." When he is not on the small screen or the big stages of Broadway, he is on the big screen. Some of his recent feature film appearances include: The Celestine Prophecy, Material Girls, After the Sunset, The Manchurian Candidate, The Notebook, John Q, How High and his co-starring role as an attorney in Philadelphia He just wrapped on two independent films I Do...I Did and Why Am I Doing This. Babatundé's acting talents are always coupled with his behind the scenes skills. He was co-producer and director of "Oscar's Black Odyssey," co-producer of "Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty," and co-producer of "TV in Black: The First 50 Years." He is the associate producer and star of the upcoming film Haitian Nights. Babatundé has just completed a successful run of the new Broadway bound Musical Sammy at The Old Globe Theater, in which he plays the title role of Sammy Davis Jr.
As previously reported, on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will become 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.
The Broadway production now stars Ashlee Simpson-Wentz as Roxie Hart, Deidre Goodwin as Velma Kelly, Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart and Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton.
As previously announced, Grammy Award winner Michelle Williams will take over the role of Roxie Hart for a seven-week engagement beginning Monday, February 8.
In addition to Broadway, CHICAGO is currently enjoying a successful tour throughout North America, with upcoming engagements set for Seattle, Sacramento, Memphis, 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 celebrated 12 years there last month.
CHICAGO can also be seen on tour through the United Kingdom and Australia. 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.
