MARTI PELLOW TO MAKE WEST STAGE DEBUT IN CHICAGO

MARTI PELLOW TO MAKE WEST STAGE DEBUT IN CHICAGO

Former "Wet Wet Wet" lead singer Marti Pellow makes his West End stage debut in Chicago, at the Adelphi Theatre, from 10th June 02 as 'Billy Flynn' (He takes over from Neil McCaul).

Marti Pellow , who will be 37-years-old on Sat 23rd March , was the lead singer of 'Wet Wet Wet' for 12 years before he left the band in 1999. He once admitted that by 1994 - at the height of the band's popularity - he had become an alcoholic and a drug taker. He told the Evening Standard "I was boozing really heavily.......About that time, I started losing my sanity, messing about with heroin."

He says he is now excited about his up-coming role in Chicago. "I have never tried anything like this before, and I am really excited about it......The music is strong and the arrangements superb. I was very excited to be asked."

The current cast of Chicago includes Anita Louise Combe as 'Roxie Hart' , prior to Denise Van Outen returning to the production to star as 'Roxie Hart' on 29th April to 1st June 02. Anna Jane Casey as 'Velma Kelly' and Sue Kelvin as 'Mama Morton' , Clive Rowe as 'Amos Hart'.

"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'.