Kevin Richardson, of Backstreet Boys fame, will join the Broadway company of Chicago on Jan. 20.

Richardson will succeed Billy Zane in the role of super-smooth lawyer Billy Flynn. Zane's last performance in the Kander and Ebb musical is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2003. Richardson will play the role at the Shubert Theatre through Jan. 26 and will move with the company to the Ambassador Theatre on Jan. 29. He is scheduled to stay with the production through March 9.

A member of the Backstreet Boys group, whose record sales number 71 million, Kevin Richardson will be making his Broadway debut in Chicago. He has, however, performed in regional theatrical productions. Richardson follows another boy band star, 'N Sync's Joey Fatone, who made his Main Stem bow on Aug. 5 in Jonathan Larson's Rent.

Kander and Ebb's Tony-winning revival currently stars Australian stage star Caroline O'Connor as Velma Kelly, Broadway veteran Charlotte d'Amboise as Roxie Hart, the aforementioned Billy Zane as Billy Flynn with Rob Bartlett as Amos Hart and Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton. The original revival cast included Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Joel Grey, James Naughton and Marcia Lewis.

Chicago, at the Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street), won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse. For ticket information, call (212) 239-6200.