Chicago: Joey Lawrence to make Broadway debut playing Billy Flyn from 4 May 2007

TV star Joey Lawrence is to make his Broadway debut on 4 May 2007 playing slick Lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway musical Chicago. He will star in the show from 4 May - 17 Jun 2007.

Lawrence currently plays Clay Dobson in CSI: NY. As a child actor he first appeared in the sit-com 'Give Me a Break,' which ran in the 80's, as orphan Joey Donovan. He is most probably best known for playing the character Joey Russo, a dim-witted young man who frequently uttered the phrase "WHOA!" in the TV sit-com Blossom which originally aired in the 90's.

In further casting news:
Bianca Marroquin is to play the role of Roxie from 23 Apr 2007, she assumes the role from Bebe Neuwirth who leaves the show on 22 Apr 2007. This will be the fourth stint for Marroquin as Roxie Hart, she first played the role from 18 Jun - 2 Jul 2002.

Bernard Dotson is to play Billy Flynn from 23 Apr - 3 May 2007, he assumes the role from Philip Casnoff who leaves the show on 22 Apr 2007. This will be Dotson's third stint as the slick lawyer Billy Flynn, he first played the role from 7 - 17 Apr 2005.

Brenda Braxton, who currently plays the role of Velma Kelly, is scheduled to leave the musical on 22 Apr 2007. There has been no annoucement as to whether she will continue with the show.

As previously announced husband-and-wife actors Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna are to play Billy Flynn and Roxie Hart, respectively, from 19 Jun - 29 Jul 2007.

Chicago also features Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, Roz Ryan as Matron 'Mama' Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

The musical has been playing on Broadway since 14 Nov 1996, it moved to the Ambassador Theatre on the 29 Jan 2003 where it is currently booking to 2 Sep 2007. The show celebrated its 10th anniversary on 14 Nov 2006.

Chicago has music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, Book by Bob Fosse & Fred Ebb.

Chicago follows not your usual housewife, Roxie Hart, who gains dubious notoriety when she kills her boyfriend, invents her defense and manipulates everyone from her trustworthy husband to the fickle media and the unsuspecting public. Featuring well known songs, 'All That Jazz,' 'Razzle Dazzle' and 'Mr. Cellophane'.

The musical is directed by Walter Bobbie, with choreography by Ann Reinking, scene design by John Lee Beatty, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Scott Lehrer.