Yonekura Ryoko to Star as 'Roxie' in CHICAGO This July

According to the Tokyo Graph, actress Yonekura Ryoko will join the hit revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO this July. She is set to star as Roxy Hart, making her the first Japanese woman to star on Broadway since the 1958 production of Flower Drum Song starring Nancy Umeki. Ryoko will also be the first Japanese performer to portray a lead American character in a long-running Broadway musical.

Ryoko starred as Roxy in the Japanese production of CHICAGO in 2008 and 2010. She will now reprise the leading role on Broadway.

While performing in the show in Japan, Ryoko was inspired to set her sights on Broadway by actress Amra-Faye Wright who played Velma Kelly. Write, who had previously performed on Broadway, played the role in Japanese.

The Japanese production team contacted producer Barry Weisler. Last August, the Broadway production team requested audition videos from Ryoko. She had to perform all of the songs and scenes in English. "While taking lessons as often as 4 times a week, Yonekura recorded and sent a total of 7 videos, which earned the approval of the production team."

Ryoko has had a successful stage and screen career in Japan.

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.

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