The New York production of the Tony Award-winning revival of Chicago will celebrate 30 years on Broadway with a special performance November 16 at 7 PM at the Ambassador Theatre.
The gala performance, benefiting the Entertainment Community Fund’s dance programs, will welcome original company members Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton. The performance will also feature appearances from former and current Chicago stars Robyn Hurder, Whitney Leavitt, Ariana Madix, Alex Newell, and Reece Weaver. Additional celebrity guests will be announced at a later date.
Chicago is the longest-running show currently on Broadway and the longest-running American musical in history.
Check out Chicago merchandise in the Playbill Store
Tickets for the 30th anniversary performance will go on sale October 15 at 10 AM ET at Telecharge or by phone at (212) 239-6200. Visit EntertainmentCommunity.org/Chicago30 to learn more. All proceeds will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund’s programs serving dancers.
The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, is a national human services organization that addresses the unique needs of people who work in performing arts and entertainment with services focused on health and wellness, career and life, and housing. Since 1882, the Fund has sought to ensure stability, encourage resiliency and be a safety net for those who shape our country’s cultural vibrancy.
The current cast of Chicago features Weaver as Roxie Hart, Lissa deGuzman as Velma Kelly, Max von Essen as Billy Flynn, Natasha Yvette Williams as Matron “Mama” Morton, Red Concepcion as Amos Hart, and J. Workman as Mary Sunshine.
The ensemble includes Tia Altinay, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Austin Dunn, John Michael Fiumara, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Chelsea James, Christopher Kelley, James T. Lane, Jenny Laroche, Marty Lawson, Joseph London, Kristen Faith Oei, Denny Paschall, Mariah Reives, Sean Samuels, Samantha Sturm, Jeff Sullivan, and Elizabeth Yanick.
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 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 now 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.