Sophie Carmen-Jones, who originated the role of Nini in the London company of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and subsequently made her Broadway debut in the same part, joined the New York production of Chicago February 10 as Velma Kelly, alongside Real Housewives star Erika Jayne in an encore run as Roxie Hart. See new production shots of the current cast in the gallery below.
The Broadway cast also currently features Max von Essen as Billy Flynn, Nakiya Peterkin as Matron "Mama" Morton, Greg Hildreth as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. Jayne will star as Roxie until February 23.
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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.
Currently celebrating its 28th year on Broadway, Chicago has also recently hit many other milestones, including 35,000 performances worldwide. Chicago has played in 38 countries including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Sweden, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Italy, Denmark, Holland, Spain, France, South Korea, and more, in over 525 cities, and seen by more than 34 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 by Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, and casting by Duncan Stewart of ARC Casting.
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.
