Marti Pellow Returns to CHICAGO in U.K. National Tour, 1/18/2010

International singing sensation Marti Pellow will return to star as ‘Billy Flynn' in the UK National tour of the smash-hit musical "CHICAGO" for six weeks only from Monday 18 January until Saturday 26 February 2010. Marti first played the role to great acclaim in the West End, subsequently repeating his performance in New York and on the UK national tour, playing to sell-out houses. Emma Barton, currently starring in the show on tour as ‘Roxie Hart', will continue to play the role opposite Marti Pellow.

As lead vocalist of Wet Wet Wet, Marti had 12 British Top Ten hits including three No. 1 singles: "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Goodnight Girl" and "Love is All Around". Since leaving Wet Wet Wet in 1999, Marti Pellow has had a very successful solo career with albums such as "Smile", "Between the Covers", and "Moonlight Over Memphis". His TV appearances include "The Abbey", starring alongside Russell Brand, and he won the prime-time BBC1 hit show "Just The Two of Us". He has just completed a 10-month UK tour starring as ‘Darryl Van Horne' in "Witches of Eastwick".

Emma Barton is best known for her role as ‘Honey Mitchell' in BBC1's "EastEnders". Her other television roles include "Spooks" on BBC1 and "Secret History" on Channel 4. Previous stage roles include ‘Peggy' in "The Secret Garden" (RSC), ‘Norma Cassidy' in "Victor/Victoria" (Bridewell) and ‘Marty' in "Grease" (Victoria Palace Theatre).

The following tour dates have now been confirmed for Marti Pellow:

Wales Millennium Centre (18 - 23 January) Box office 08700 40 2000
Milton Keynes Theatre (25 - 30 January) Box office 0844 871 7627
Preston Charter Theatre (1 - 6 February) Box office 0845 344 2012
Theatre Royal Newcastle (8 - 12 February) Box office 08448 11 2121
Mayflower Southampton (16 - 26 February) Box office 02380 711811

"CHICAGO", which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher. "CHICAGO" is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.

"CHICAGO" opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews, winning the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical', and immediately became a sell-out hit. The show in London, now at the Cambridge Theatre, is in its twelfth year. ""CHICAGO" currently plays in New York and on tour in the US, with forthcoming productions in Japan, Holland and Spain.

The National UK Tour of "CHICAGO" is produced by David Ian Productions in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.