Photo Coverage: Christie Brinkley Debuts in CHICAGO

Christie Brinkley is the latest addition to a remarkable roster of actresses who have graced CHICAGO's Broadway stage as Roxie Hart throughout the years, including Brooke Shields, Sandy Duncan, Marilu Henner, Bebe Neuwirth, AshLee Simpson, Michelle Williams and Academy Award nominee Melanie Griffith.

Throughout her phenomenal career as one of the country's most successful and recognizable supermodels, Christie Brinkley has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers worldwide. But more than that, she also excels as an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist environmentalist and political activist. Combining her modeling experience with her artistic talents and diverse interests, Christie's career over the years has been interesting and dynamic.

A Ford model for over thirty years, Christie was discovered by a photographer in Paris at the age of eighteen. Since then, she has become the first model to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated for three consecutive years, and appeared in the publication's annual swimsuit issues and television specials for years to follow.

In 1976, CoverGirl gave Christie her first "big break" in modeling with a contract, which launched the start of a 20-year partnership that marks the longest-running cosmetics contract of any model in history.

Christie is known for her commitment to health and fitness. Christie wrote and illustrated a health and beauty book, "Christie Brinkley's Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Guide" which topped The New York Times bestseller list.

On the big screen, she made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the hit feature film National Lampoon's Vacation and its 1997 sequel, Vegas Vacation. She has also famously appeared in Billy Joel's classic music videos "Uptown Girl," "Keeping the Faith" and "All About Soul," as well as Mick Jones' music video "Just Wanna Hold."

On television, Christie has appeared on NBC's "Mad About You" and hosted Lifetime Television's "InStyle Celebrity Weddings," which became the highest rated special in Lifetime's history. She has also been featured in Vh1's "Pop Culture Icons" series. Christie has been the subject of many documentaries including the HBO program "Beautiful Baby, Beautiful," Lifetime's "Intimate Portrait" and "Barbara Walters' Oscar Night Special."

Christie is an active member and dedicated supporter/activist for many organizations including UNICEF's Art and Entertainment Support Committee, Handgun Control, Ovarian Cancer, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Cousteau Society, Southern Poverty Law, The Wilderness Society and stopglobalwarming.org.

She currently lives in New York with two of her three children, Sailor Lee and Jack Paris.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her 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.

CHICAGO features a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, and is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

Photos by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.