Look Back at Liza Minnelli in Chicago on Broadway

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Stage to Page Look Back at Liza Minnelli in Chicago on Broadway As viewers of Fosse/Verdon saw, the Tony and Oscar winner stepped in as Roxie Hart while Gwen Verdon was out sick, beginning August 8, 1975.

By Playbill Staff

August 08, 2020

Liza Minnelli in *Chicago* Photo by Martha Swope

As viewers saw in Episode 7 of Fosse/Verdon, Liza Minnelli stepped into the role of Roxie Hart in the original Broadway production of Chicago, while star Gwen Verdon was on vocal rest.

With only six days to learn the role of the merry murderess, the Academy Award– and Tony-winning stage and film star agreed to do the show as a favor to her Cabaret chums, John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse. She began performances August 8, 1975—and it was a total surprise to the audiences of that performance.

See photos of Minnelli in the role below!