Griffith will join hubby Antonio Banderas on West 49th Street: Banderas is currently starring across the street in the Tony-winning revival of Nine at the Eugene O'Neill.

The actress — nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in "Working Girl" — will portray merry murderess Roxie Hart, a role created in this revival by Ann Reinking and recently played on screen by Academy Award nominee Renee Zellweger. Griffith will be joined onstage by Deidre Goodwin (Velma Kelly), P. J. Benjamin (Amos Hart), Camille Saviola (Matron "Mama" Morton), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn) and D. Sabella (Mary Sunshine).

Among Melanie Griffith’s many screen credits are "Body Double," "Something Wild," “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” “Paradise,” “Born Yesterday,” “Mulholland Falls,” “Lolita,” “Cecil B. DeMented” and “Stuart Little 2.” Griffith is scheduled to stay in the Broadway company of Chicago through Sept. 28.

Chicago won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.

Chicago now plays Tuesday through Saturdays at 8 PM, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2 PM and Sundays at 6:30 PM. The Ambassador Theatre is located at 215 West 49th Street. For ticket information, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.