Chicago Casting Announced
Spaghetti Gazetti
January 11, 2009
JIMMY OSMOND TO STAR AS ‘BILLY FLYNN’
ALONGSIDE EASTENDERS STAR EMMA BARTON AS ‘ROXIE HART’
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME MONDAY 1-SATURDAY 13 JUNE
Legendary singer Jimmy Osmond will star as ‘Billy Flynn’ in the UK National tour of the smash-hit musical CHICAGO which can be seen at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 1 – Saturday 13 June.
Emma Barton will star alongside him as ‘Roxie Hart’.
The youngest member of the world-renowned Osmond family, Jimmy Osmond is the youngest person ever to top the singles charts with his 1972 hit ‘Long Haired Lover From Liverpool’. As a solo artist, Jimmy has accumulated six gold records, one platinum record, and two gold albums. Jimmy and his siblings have sold over 100 million records and share 51 gold and platinum recordings. Jimmy made his UK stage debut in “Boogie Nights” in Blackpool in 2004, and was subsequently a contestant in “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” in 2005. Prior to CHICAGO, he is making his West End stage debut in “Grease” for 6 weeks from January 2009.
Emma Barton is best known for her role as ‘Honey Mitchell’ in BBC1’s EastEnders. Her other television roles include ‘Spooks’ on BBC1 and ‘Secret History’ on Channel 4. Previous stage roles include ‘Peggy’ in The Secret Garden (RSC), ‘Norma Cassidy’ in Victor/Victoria (Bridewell) and ‘Marty’ in “Grease” (Victoria Palace Theatre).
The international award winning musical CHICAGO is based on real life events back in the roaring 1920’s and includes a sexy sassy score featuring All that Jazz and Razzle Dazzle.
Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive Birmingham Hippodrome said “CHICAGO is one of theatre’s most thrilling musicals and we are delighted to welcome the show with such a great cast to Birmingham Hippodrome for the first time”.
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. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.
CHICAGO opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews, winning the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical', and immediately became a sell-out hit. The show in London, now at the Cambridge Theatre, has just entered its twelfth year. CHICAGO currently plays in New York, Japan, Denmark and on tour in the US, with forthcoming productions in Australia, Korea, Holland and Spain.
The National UK Tour of CHICAGO will be produced by David Ian Productions in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler. Further casting announcements to follow.
Tickets for CHICAGO on are on sale at Birmingham Hippodrome on 0844 338 5000 or online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com. Group Sales 0844 338 7000. (Calls cost from 5pm per min: 6% transaction charge, 3% online). Tickets are priced: £14.50-£35. Perf times: Mon-Thu eves: 7.30pm; Fri 5pm & 8.30pm; Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. |
