Weisslers Decide Not to Cast Tara Conner in Chicago

According to the New York Post's Michael Riedel, disgraced beauty queen Tara Conner will not take to the Broadway stage as Roxie Hart in the smash revival of Chicago.

Riedel writes that Conner's performing talents were not deemed sufficient for her to take on the role of the starry-eyed murderess.  Chicago co-producer Barry Weissler reportedly let go of her last week.  Conner, who was recently in danger of losing her Miss USA crown after the disclosure of substance abuse problems, recently rehearsed for her possible casting.

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 almost 4,300 performances at the Ambassador Theatre (215 W. 49th St.); the show celebrated its 10 year anniversary in November 2006. 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.  The revival is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.