Darius Campbell (formerly Danesh) will return to the smash hit musical CHICAGO when it re-opens at the Garrick Theatre on Monday 7 November to reprise his role as Billy Flynn opposite Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, who will be making her British stage debut as Roxie Hart.
Darius was last seen in CHICAGO in London in 2006. Since then, he has starred in West End musicals Guys and Dolls, as Sky Masterson, and Gone with the Wind, as Rhett Butler. On television, he appeared in BBC 1's Hotel Babylon and last year won ITV1′s Popstar to Operastar, after which he made his opera debut in Carmen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the biggest operatic production ever in the UK, at The O2 Arena. More recently, Darius has toured the UK with his History of the Big Bands Tour, and made a guest appearance at the Beatles 50th Anniversary Concert at the Royal
Albert Hall, along with
Shirley Bassey,
Tony Christie, and Beverley Knight.
America Ferrera and
Darius Campbell will help usher in CHICAGO's record-breaking 15th year in London when it celebrates its 14th birthday on 18 November. Now the most successful Broadway export ever, CHICAGO had its final performance at the Cambridge Theatre on 27 August, establishing the record for the longest running American musical. During its 5-year run there, the multi award-winning musical played to over 2 million people, notched up numerous records and became in the process the West End's longest running revival ever.
Opening at the Garrick Theatre alongside
America Ferrera and
Darius Campbell will be
Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly,
James Doherty as Amos Hart,
Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and
R. Whitehead as Mary Sunshine.
CHICAGO originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998
Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.
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. CHICAGO is choreographed by
Ann Reinking in the style of
Bob Fosse and directed by
Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. CHICAGO is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and
Fran Weissler.
For more information, visit www.chicagothemusical.co.uk
