On July 16 the actor will begin a stint as slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the Kander and Ebb musical, which plays West End's Adelphi Theatre. Hasselhoff will be making his London theatre debut in the hit revival. The 51-year-old performer made his Broadway debut in Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde.

Hasselhoff told the Associated Press, ''This is not about making money — this is about following my heart, challenging myself and having fun." About the character he will play, the actor added, "Billy will be like every attorney I've ever known — charming until he delivers the bill.''

Chicago opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London in 1997, where it is still playing. The musical features a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and the late Bob Fosse. Walter Bobbie and Ann Reinking were, respectively, the director and choreographer of the London staging. They also handled the same duties for the Broadway revival, now playing the Ambassador Theatre.