Lillias White and Bianca Marroquin

Lillias White, Bianca Marroquín to lead reopening cast of ‘Chicago’ on Broadway

Performances resume at the Ambassador Theatre September 14.

Gillian Russo
Gillian Russo

UPDATE: Marroquín and Ana Villafañe, who plays Roxie Hart, have extended their runs in Chicago through January 9, 2022. White has also extended her run as Matron "Mama" Morton, playing her final performance on December 26, 2021.

And all that jazz! The long-running musical Chicago has announced initial casting ahead of its reopening on Broadway September 14. Tony winner Lillias White and longtime cast member Bianca Marroquin will lead the cast as Matron "Mama" Morton and Velma Kelly, respectively.

Marroquín, who has played Roxie Hart at over 4,000 performances of Chicago in the past 20 years, will now debut as Velma Kelly. She joins only a handful of women including Chita Rivera and Ruthie Henshall that have played both of Chicago's leading women.

White will play Matron "Mama" Morton, reprising a role she first held in 2006. She has appeared in numerous Broadway shows in her career, including Dreamgirls, Cats, Once on this Island, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and more. Her 1997 performance as Sonja in The Life won her multiple awards, including a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award.

Other principal cast members include Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart and Ryan Lowe as Mary Sunshine. Casting for the roles of Roxie Hart and Billy Flynn has yet to be announced.

The cast also includes David Bushman, Jennifer Dunne, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Arian Keddell, Mary Claire King, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Brian O'Brien, Denny Paschall, Angel Reda, Jermaine R. Rembert, Michael Scirrotto, Christine C. Smith, and Brian Spitulnik.

Chicago features a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The current production, which opened in 1996, is the longest-running American musical in and the longest-running revival in Broadway history.

Get Chicago tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

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