"CHICAGO " MAJOR CAST CHANGES

"CHICAGO " MAJOR CAST CHANGES

There are some major cast changes in Chicago, at the Adelphi Theatre from 17th April 01.

Television star Denise Van Outen will star as 'Roxie Hart'. Leigh Zimmerman and James Gaddas will join the cast to star as 'Velma Kelly' and 'Billy Flynn'.

Barry James will star as 'Amos Hart' from Monday 19 March 01.

Susannah Fellows and Mattie Clay-White will continue to feature as 'Mama Morton' and 'Mary Sunshine'.

Denise Van Outen will star in the show for 16 weeks. Apart from her prolific television presenting work and appearances in television dramas, her London theatre work includes "Les Miserables" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the RSC. One of the stars of the film "Love, Honour and Obey", her recordings include the Children in Need single "Especially For You", (which she sang with Johnny Vaughan, reaching Number 3 in the charts) and the album "Abba Mania", on which Denise sang "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!".

Leigh Zimmerman was in the original Broadway cast of this production of "CHICAGO" and was last seen on stage playing 'Elaine' in "The Seven Year Itch" in London.

James Gaddas's many television roles include 'Vinnie' in "Coronation Street", 'Craig Downey' in "Jonathan Creek" and 'Dr Robert Nevin' in four series of "Medics". His West End theatre credits include 'Crispin Usher' in "A Chorus of Disapproval" at the Royal National Theatre and 'Yvan' in "Art" at the Wyndham's Theatre.

Barry James has starred in many West End shows including "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Les Miserables" and Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". He has played principal roles at the Royal National Theatre in "The Rivals", "Love for Love", and "The Threepenny Opera", and was nominated for an Olivier Award for the role of 'Beadle Bamford' in "Sweeney Todd", also at the Royal National Theatre.

"CHICAGO", which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher and musical direction by Gareth Valentine. It is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.

The West End production of "CHICAGO" is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team.

"CHICAGO" opened in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. It won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'.

"CHICAGO" is currently playing in New York, Buenos Aires and across the United States, and will open in Dusseldorf this autumn.