Laura Tyrer To Play Velma Kelly In CHICAGO At The Phoenix Theatre

Laura Tyrer will join the West End cast of Chicago at The Phoenix Theatre, playing the role of Velma Kelly from Monday 24 September through to Saturday 6 October 2018. Laura joins Alexandra Burke as Roxie Hart, Duncan James as Billy Flynn, Mazz Murray as Mama Morton and Paul Rider as Amos Hart.

Laura Tyrer secured the role of Velma via an audition to be shown as part of the brand new ITV series The Big Audition, from the makers of First Dates, which begins next month. The series, a Twenty Twenty production, delves into the world of real life, genuine auditions.

Laura's previous West End credits include Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, From Here to Eternity, Cabaret, Spamalot and most recently Ruthless! Her touring credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, White Christmas and Beauty and the Beast.

CHICAGO is booking at The Phoenix Theatre in London's West End until Saturday 5 January 2019.

The multi award-winning Kander & Ebb musical Chicago, winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, returned to London's West End on Monday 26 March 2018, with a press night on Wednesday 11 April at The Phoenix Theatre in London.

CHICAGO originally ran in London for 15 years, making it the West End's longest running revival. It first 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, where it ran for five years until 27 August 2011. The show then opened at the Garrick Theatre on 7 November 2011, where it ran until 1 September 2012.

Since it opened in New York in 1996, Chicago has played in 36 countries worldwide, and been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, French, Danish, Japanese and Korean. It has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide and has played over 32,500 performances worldwide, with an estimated 31 million people around the world having seen Chicago. Chicago continues to play on Broadway, where it celebrated its 21st birthday last year, and around the world in multiple languages. It is the world's longest running American musical.

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. The 1996 Broadway revival of Chicago was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.