CHICAGO to end historic 15 year run in London's West End on September 1st
CHICAGO
to close in London's West End
The West End’s longest running revival and the world’s longest running American musical, the multi award-winning musical CHICAGO, ends its run in London after 15 years on Saturday 1 September. Producer Barry Weissler, who, along with his wife Fran, has produced the show in New York, London and around the world, said, “Bringing CHICAGO to the West End was a pivotal moment in Fran’s and my career. Running 15 years has been a dream come true. We may be taking our ‘parting shots’ for now, but the Razzle Dazzle will never fade!”
Composer John Kander said, "What a great experience this has been. The fact that the London audience has embraced our show for 15 years fills me with gratitude and pride. Thank you all for your warmth and enthusiasm.”
CHICAGO originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, where it ran for five years until 27 August 2011. The show then opened at the Garrick Theatre on 7 November 2011, where it will run until 1 September 2012.
The cast of CHICAGO will be joined by ROBIN COUSINS as Billy Flynn from 17 July. Robin is the first Olympian ever to appear in a theatre production in the home town of the Olympics during the Olympics. Along with Robin, the cast is led by Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart, Rachel McDowall as Velma Kelly, Tony Timberlake as Amos Hart and Jasna Ivir as Matron "Mama" Morton.
The original cast of the London production of CHICAGO starred Ruthie Henshall, Ute Lemper, Henry Goodman and Nigel Planer, and, since then, over the 15 years, the many stars who’ve appeared in the West End production of CHICAGO have included Alison Moyet, America Ferrera, Anita Dobson, Aoife Mulholland, Ashlee Simpson, Bonnie Langford, Brooke Shields, Chita Rivera, Christie Brinkley, Claire Sweeney, Clive Rowe, Darius Danesh, David Hasselhoff, Denise Van Outen, Gaby Roslin, Ian Kelsey, Jennifer Ellison, Jill Halfpenny, Joel Grey, John Barrowman, Kelly Osbourne, Kevin Richardson, Leigh Zimmerman, Les Denis, Lynda Carter, Maria Friedman, Marti Pellow, Michael French, Michael Greco, Michelle Williams, Peter Davison, Raza Jaffrey, Sacha Distel, Tina Arena and Tony Hadley.
Since it opened in New York in 1996, CHICAGO has played worldwide in the following countries: England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Israel, Russia, South Africa, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, with CHICAGO having been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian and French. It has grossed over £120 million in London since it opened in 1997, and grossed over $1 billion worldwide. It has played over 15,000 performances worldwide, with an estimated 17 million people around the world having seen CHICAGO.
CHICAGO is one of only six musicals to have played 15 years or more in London’s West End, the others being Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Blood Brothers, Cats and Starlight Express.
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. CHICAGO 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 is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.
A production of CHICAGO continues to tour the UK, visiting cites including, but not limited to, Cardiff, Truro, Torquay, Nottingham, Dublin, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Woking, Preston, Belfast, Derry, Crawley, Oxford, Canterbury, Glasgow, Plymouth, Cambridge and Dunfermline. CHICAGO also continues to play on Broadway and around the world in multiple languages.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Garrick Theatre
2 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0HH
Performances: Mondays to Thursdays at 8.00pm, Fridays at 5.00pm & 8.30pm, Saturdays at 3.00pm & 8.00pm. N.B. 2.00pm & 7.00pm on Friday 27 July.
Tickets: £26.00 - £67.50 (All prices include a £1 theatre restoration levy. Booking fees apply for ‘phone and online bookings. No booking fee on tickets purchased in person from the Garrick Theatre Box Office.) N.B. From 23 April – 31 August, there is an Under 20s ticket rate of £20, valid for Monday – Thursday evening performances and Friday matinees, available in advance online or in person on the day.
Box Office: 0844 482 9673
Website: www.chicagothemusical.co.uk
Facebook: facebook/chicagolondon
Twitter: twitter/chicagolondon
The original cast of the London production of CHICAGO starred Ruthie Henshall, Ute Lemper, Henry Goodman and Nigel Planer, and, since then, over the 15 years, the many stars who’ve appeared in the West End production of CHICAGO have included Alison Moyet, America Ferrera, Anita Dobson, Aoife Mulholland, Ashlee Simpson, Bonnie Langford, Brooke Shields, Chita Rivera, Christie Brinkley, Claire Sweeney, Clive Rowe, Darius Danesh, David Hasselhoff, Denise Van Outen, Gaby Roslin, Ian Kelsey, Jennifer Ellison, Jill Halfpenny, Joel Grey, John Barrowman, Kelly Osbourne, Kevin Richardson, Leigh Zimmerman, Les Denis, Lynda Carter, Maria Friedman, Marti Pellow, Michael French, Michael Greco, Michelle Williams, Peter Davison, Raza Jaffrey, Sacha Distel, Tina Arena and Tony Hadley.
Since it opened in New York in 1996, CHICAGO has played worldwide in the following countries: England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Israel, Russia, South Africa, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, with CHICAGO having been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian and French. It has grossed over £120 million in London since it opened in 1997, and grossed over $1 billion worldwide. It has played over 15,000 performances worldwide, with an estimated 17 million people around the world having seen CHICAGO.
CHICAGO is one of only six musicals to have played 15 years or more in London’s West End, the others being Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Blood Brothers, Cats and Starlight Express.
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. CHICAGO 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 is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.
A production of CHICAGO continues to tour the UK, visiting cites including, but not limited to, Cardiff, Truro, Torquay, Nottingham, Dublin, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Woking, Preston, Belfast, Derry, Crawley, Oxford, Canterbury, Glasgow, Plymouth, Cambridge and Dunfermline. CHICAGO also continues to play on Broadway and around the world in multiple languages.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Garrick Theatre
2 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0HH
Performances: Mondays to Thursdays at 8.00pm, Fridays at 5.00pm & 8.30pm, Saturdays at 3.00pm & 8.00pm. N.B. 2.00pm & 7.00pm on Friday 27 July.
Tickets: £26.00 - £67.50 (All prices include a £1 theatre restoration levy. Booking fees apply for ‘phone and online bookings. No booking fee on tickets purchased in person from the Garrick Theatre Box Office.) N.B. From 23 April – 31 August, there is an Under 20s ticket rate of £20, valid for Monday – Thursday evening performances and Friday matinees, available in advance online or in person on the day.
Box Office: 0844 482 9673
Website: www.chicagothemusical.co.uk
Facebook: facebook/chicagolondon
Twitter: twitter/chicagolondon
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