PHOTO FLASH: Does CHICAGO Have Artistic Differences With Stephen Colbert Bus Ad?

"Imitation is the sincerest form of plagiarism," said Oscar Levant, so the gang at the smash Broadway revival of Chicago must be sincerely tickled that the new bus ads for LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT imitate their iconic campaign.

Black and white photos of the sexy company members in provocative poses have been a mainstay on New York streets, buses and taxies and in subway stations since Chicago opened nearly twenty years ago. The one pictured below features the Broadway company's current Mona, Angel Reda. But for now, artistic differences aside, the name on everybody's lips is gonna be... Stephen!

With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago is now the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, 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, Chicagofeatures 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.

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.

Tickets for Chicago are available through Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200, and in-person at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.; New York, NY) box office. Regular box office hours are 10 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 pm Sunday.