The Tony-winning revival of Chicago celebrated its 29th anniversary at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre November 17, and the cameras were there to capture the historic night! See the company—led by new stars Kate Baldwin and Alex Newell—mark the occasion with a special curtain call in the gallery below.
Baldwin—Tony-nominated for her work as Irene Molloy in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! and Sharon McLonergan in the 2009 revival of Finian's Rainbow—stepped into the role of Roxie Hart November 10, succeeding screen star Mira Sorvino. Watch Baldwin take her first bow in the long-running hit in the gallery below.
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Baldwin has also been seen on Broadway in Big Fish, The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Wonderful Town, while her Off-Broadway credits include Giant, John & Jen, and Superhero. Her screen credits include Law & Order: SVU, Just Beyond, The Gilded Age, and more.
Kate Baldwin and Alex Newell
Alex Newell
Alex Newell
Kate Baldwin
Tony winner Newell, who made history as the first openly non-binary performer to win a Tony in an acting category for their role as Lulu in Shucked, joined Chicago as the newest Matron "Mama" Morton November 17.
Newell, who also starred as Asaka in the 2018 Broadway revival of Once On This Island, first garnered attention in the critically acclaimed musical series Glee as transgender student Wade “Unique” Adams. Their other TV credits include Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Our Kind of People, and Empire.
The production, which celebrates its 29th anniversary this month, currently stars Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Tam Mutu as Billy Flynn, Angela Grovey as Matron “Mama” Morton, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
The cast also includes Zach Bravo, David Bushman, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Chelsea James, Arian Keddell, James T. Lane, Marty Lawson, Joseph London, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Kristen Faith Oei, Denny Paschall, Mikayla Renfrow, Sean Samuels, Samantha Sturm.
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.
Since its debut in 1996, Chicago has played in 36 countries and been seen by 33 million people worldwide. It is now the second-longest running show in Broadway history (after the recently closed The Phantom of the Opera).
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 by Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, and casting by ARC.
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.
