Gina Murray returns to Chicago

Gina Murray is reprising her performance as Mama Morton in the UK tour of Chicago for a limited run. 

Murray, who previously played the role in China and in the West End, will play her first performance tonight (11th July) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. 

She will continue with the show for two and a half weeks, playing Plymouth and Cardiff until Jessie Wallace takes over.

The current cast of Chicago also includes John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine.

Jessie Wallace to star as Mama Morton in Chicago

Jessie Wallace is joining the UK tour of Chicago as Mama Morton.

She will perform at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (15 – 20 August), Belfast Grand Opera House (5 – 10 September), Liverpool Empire (12 – 17 September), Glasgow King’s Theatre (19 - 24 September), Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre (26 September – 1 October), Bromley Churchill Theatre (10 – 15 October), Woking New Victoria Theatre (17 - 22 October), Canterbury Marlowe Theatre (24 – 29 October), Norwich Theatre Royal (31 October – 5 November) and Leeds Grand Theatre (22 – 26 November). 

Wallace joins John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine.

Review: Chicago (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Chicago (UK Tour) 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 22nd February 2016
★★★

With the Broadway production having celebrated its 8,000th performance over the weekend, Chicago has made its long awaited return to the UK for a new tour. Revolving around jailbirds Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly and their hunger for fame, the show - which was famously adapted into a film in 2002 - still feels very relevant in 2016.

Full casting announced for Chicago UK tour

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming national tour of Chicago which begins at the New Theatre in Oxford on Friday 12th February 2016.

Joining the previously announced John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and Sam Bailey as Mama Morton will be Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine.

Completing the cast are Daniele Arbisi, Nicola Coates, Frances Dee, Adam Denman, Francis Foreman, Waylon Jacobs, Justin-Lee Jones, Dann Kharsa, Chelsea Labadini, Ellie Mitchell, Peter Nash, Helen Siveter, Kerry Spark, Lindsey Tierney and Emily Warner.

Chicago heading back out on tour?

It looks like Chicago will once again head out on the road, with tickets already on sale for multiple venues.

The musical, which closed in the West End in September 2012 after nearly fifteen years, will play the New Theatre Oxford 12th - 20th February 2016 and Manchester Opera House 21st March - 2nd April 2016. 

Chicago was created by John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse. Musical numbers include 'All That Jazz', 'Razzle Dazzle' and 'Cell Block Tango'. 

Review: Chicago at the Leicester Curve Theatre

Chicago
Leicester Curve Theatre
Reviewed on Saturday 21st December 2013

Despite running in the West End for nearly fifteen years, I was one of the very few people who had never seen Chicago on stage, so as soon as Leicester Curve's Artistic Director Paul Kerryson announced he was directing a brand new production, with musical direction by Ben Atkinson and choreography by Drew McOnie, I knew I had to see it.

The Curve’s production uses the original 1975 script and, in the words of the show's leading lady Gemma Sutton (during a recent interview with What's On Stage), "there are no fishnets, no string vests and no black chairs.”

Chicago transported me to musical theatre heaven – the show is injected with style, flair and character, but also doesn't take itself too seriously. Chicago, which is one of the sexiest musicals ever written, revolves around scintillating sinners Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly who, as well as desiring freedom from jail, crave fame... which is where lawyer Billy Flynn comes in. Flynn manipulates the press, turning his clients into overnight stars.

Full casting announced for Curve Leicester's Chicago

Full casting has been announced for the Curve Leicester's production of Chicago. Leading the company are Verity Rushworth (Velma Kelly), Gemma Sutton (Roxie Hart, pictured right), David Leonard (Billy Flynn) and Sandra Marvin (Mama Morton) with Adam Bailey (Mary Sunshine) and Matthew Barrow (Amos).

The cast will also feature: Jocasta Almgill, Ashley Andrews, Michelle Andrews, Harry Francis, Jonny Godbold, Simon Hardwick, Fela Lufadeju, Katy Hards, Anabel Kutay, Jessica Kirton, Lucinda Lawrence, Jon Reynolds, Zizi Strallen and Callum Train.

Chicago has music by John Kander, music by Fred Ebb and is based on the play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The production will be directed by Paul Kerryson and choreographed by Drew McOnie.

The production opens on 4 December (previews from 29th November) and has extended its run until 18th January 2014. Set in 1920’s Chicago, this sleek, sexy show tells the story of scintillating sinners, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, their crimes of passion and their outrageous pursuit of fame and celebrity. But murder, adultery and corruption are no match for their manipulative, smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn. He’ll razzle dazzle us ‘til we’re begging for more...

Interview: Chicago's Jenny Gayner - from stage to screen

Jenny Gayner is currently in the West End production of Chicago at the Garrick understudying the iconic role of Roxie Hart. She has many great theatre credits to her name from Spamalot and A Chorus Line to The Rocky Horror Show and Alan Ayckbourns Relatively Speaking. More recently she has been making the move from stage to screen and hasn't just been working in front of the camera. We catch up with Jenny and talk to her about Chicago closing, her latest film and what her plans are after Chicago closes.

How did you feel when you found out Chicago was closing? 

When the announcement was made in the interval for all departments to meet on stage after the show everyone started joking that it was p45 time! But I’m not sure anyone actually believed that it would actually happen. We thought, maybe, it was a time change for the shows due to the Olympics. However, when notice was given I remember my reaction so vividly. A loud gasp and my hand went straight to my forehead. And yes, I did have tears. Chicago have been such an important part of my life, from touring, to playing The Adelphi, then moving the The Cambridge. Then leaving for some years for other work and being asked to return to the most wonderful company. I was, in a nutshell, very sad.

Chicago to close at the Garrick Theatre on 1st September 2012

After a record run for a musical revival, producers announced that Chicago will take its final bow at the Garrick Theatre on Saturday, September 1. The final Billy Flynn will be British Olympic ice-skating champion Robin Cousins, who joins the show next week. Sarah Soetaert plays Roxie Hart and Rachel McDowall is Velma Kelly.

Kids Week smashes every record in its fifteen-year history!

Kids Week has sold 74,187 tickets in less than a month, beating its total 2011 sales figures and breaking all the records in its fifteen-year history. This means that Kids Week has been completely unaffected by the Olympic Games and proves that thousands of families are preparing to travel to Theatreland during the games - hooray!

Robin Cousins returning to the West End

After just finishing a successful stint as Teen Angel in Grease Robin Cousins is returning to the West End! This time he will be joining the cast of Chicago (at the Garrick) to play Billy Flynn! His run begins on the 17th of July and ends on the 8th of September 2012.

When I first heard Robin was joining Grease a couple of years ago I was so surprised as I only knew him as the serious Dancing On Ice Judge however he has had quite a stage career! He has previously appeared as Munkustrap in Cats and Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show!

The current cast of Chicago includes Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart, Rachel McDowall as Velma Kelly, James Doherty as Amos Hart, Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and R Whitehead as Mary Sunshine.

We wish Robin good luck with his run in the show!