Eddie George to make Broadway debut as Billy Flynn

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

It has been confirmed that NFL Legend Eddie George will make his Broadway debut and star as Billy Flynn in Kander & Ebb's musical Chicago for a limited engagement at the Ambassador Theatre from 11 January to 28 February 2016.

Mr George, a Heisman Trophy winner, enjoyed a nine-year career in the NFL, which included playing in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Tennessee Titans. He also founded "Actors By George" in 2012 - a theatrical troupe based in Nashville. Since retiring from American Football, his stage credits include Matthew Lopez's 'The Whipping Man' (Nashville Repertory Theatre), Suzan-Lori Parks' 'Topdog/Underdog' (Amun Ra Theatre) and playing the title roles in both 'Othello' and 'Julius Caesar' (Nashville Shakespeare Festival). His screen credits include "Best Man Holiday," "The Game Plan," and NBC's "American Dream Builders."

The current principal cast of Chicago features Rumer Willis (Roxie Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Jason Danieley (Billy Flynn), Raymond Bokhour (Amos Hart), NaTasha Yvette Williams (Matron Mama Morton), and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

Chicago is the second longest-running production currently playing on Broadway, Broadway's longest-running musical revival, as well as the longest-running American show in Broadway history. It has been playing on Broadway since 14 November 1996, and it moved to its current home, the Ambassador Theatre, on the 29 January 2003.

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

The musical features a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book by Bob Fosse & Fred Ebb. The revival production 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.

Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

The show is currently booking through to 3 July 2016.

- by Tom Millward

Eddie George

Originally published on

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