The long-running, Tony-winning Broadway revival of Chicago will welcome the return of Bianca Marroquín, a frequent presence in the production for the past 20 years, in the role of Roxie Hart beginning June 21 at the Ambassador Theatre.
Marroquín has played Roxie in the New York company over 4,000 times. For Broadway’s return last fall following the pandemic shutdown, she stepped into the part of Velma Kelly, joining a short list of women who have both played Roxie and Velma, including Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, and Ruthie Henshall.
Marroquín first performed the role of Roxie in 2002 in Mexico City’s Spanish-language production. Her other Broadway credits include Daniela in In the Heights and Carmen in The Pajama Game. She portrayed Chita Rivera in the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon.
The Broadway company of Chicago currently features Emma Pittman as Roxie Hart, Lana Gordon (Hadestown, The Lion King) as Velma Kelly, Ryan Silverman (Side Show, Passion) as Billy Flynn, Tony winner Jennifer Holliday as Mama Morton, Evan Harrington as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
The revival of Chicago began life as one of the three annual Encores! presentations offered by City Center. The musical opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in November 14, 1996, where it remained through February 1997. The musical transferred to the Shubert Theatre, and played that house through January 26, 2003. The revival reopened at the Ambassador Theatre January 29 that year.
It is now the second-longest running show in Broadway history (after The Phantom of the Opera). Over the last 25 years, the show has been seen in 36 different countries by 33 million people worldwide.
READ: How the Chicago Costumes Have Evolved Over 25 Years
With a book by the late Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Ebb, Chicago features direction by Walter Bobbie, choreography by the late Ann Reinking, set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.
The current production, produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Bobbie, lighting designer Billington, and Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Fosse.
