Pose and American Horror Story's Angelica Ross will make her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago beginning September 12 at the Ambassador Theatre.
"I’m hoping to bring a lot of universality to the role, because what I know about great drama or great theater is that when we get really specific, it can be very universal," shares Ross as she prepares to take over the role of Roxie Hart. Watch the full interview in the video above.
Ross will play an eight-week limited engagement as Roxie Hart through November 6. She joins a small group of openly Trans performers to play principals on Broadway, including Wicked's Alexandra Billings, A Strange Loop's L Morgan Lee, Head Over Heels' Peppermint, and Straight White Men's Kate Bornstein.
Ross released a debut music video and single titled "Only You" last month, and her additional screen credits include Her Story, Transparent, Claws, Doubt, Danger & Eggs, and Framing Agnes. She also executive produced and appeared in the web series King Ester and the short film Missed Connections. Ross is the president of Miss Ross, Inc. and founder of TransTech Social Enterprises, which brings economic empowerment to marginalized communities with a focus on Black, queer, and Trans people.
READ: Japan's Ryoko Yonekura Will Return to Broadway's Chicago This Fall
The current Broadway cast of Chicago features Charlotte D'Amboise as Roxie Hart, Lana Gordon as Velma Kelly, Evan Harrington as Amos Hart, Erich Bergen as Billy Flynn, and Charity Angel Dawson as Matron “Mama” Morton, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
The ensemble includes David Bushman, Jennifer Dunne, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Arian Keddell, Mary Claire King, Joseph London, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Brian O'Brien, Denny Paschall, Jermaine R. Rembert, Rachel Shur, Michael Scirrotto, Christine Cornish Smith, and Brian Spitulnik.
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 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 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.
