Chicago: Bebe Neuwirth to play Mama Morton
Two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will return to the Tony Award winning musical Chicago for a eight-week engagement from 14 Jan - 09 Mar 2014.
Neuwirth will assume the role of Matron 'Mama' Morton from Carol Woods who will play her final performance on 05 Jan 2014. Chicago regular Roz Ryan will step into the role from 06 - 12 Jan 2014.
Neuwirth, who won a 1997 Tony Award for her portrayal of jazz-age killer 'Velma Kelly' and returned ten years later as merry murderess 'Roxie Hart,' will now take on the role of 'Matron "Mama" Morton.'
Producer Barry Weissler said
Simply put, Bebe Neuwirth is Chicago. When the revival opened 17 years ago, Bebe was honored with a Tony Award, an Astaire Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama League Award for her unequalled performance as Velma Kelly. Hers was the performance of the season, and it made an indelible and lasting mark in the history of Broadway theatre.Neuwirth's Broadway credits also include 'The Addams Family,' 'Fosse,' 'Damn Yankees,' 'Sweet Charity' (Tony Award), 'Little Me,' 'Dancin' and 'A Chorus Line.' Neuwith won two Primetime Emmy Awards for her role as 'Dr. Lilith Sternin-Crane' in the TV comedy series 'Cheers,' a role she went on to play in guest appearances in "Frasier," for which she was niminated for an Emmy for the episode "Adventures In Paradise." Other notable TV credits include "The Good Wife," "Bored to Death," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," "Hack," "Deadline," "All Dogs Go to Heaven" and "Wild Palms."Ten years later, she rejoined the company to star as Roxie Hart, and the results were equally spectacular. And this January she's back again, now as Matron 'Mama' Morton, making her the first leading lady in Broadway history to play all three principal roles. I'll say it again: Bebe Neuwirth is Chicago.
Chicago currently stars Amra-Fay Wright (Velma Kelly), Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Ryan Silverman (Billy Flynn), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Christopher Fitzgerald (Amos Hart) 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.
The show 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 through to 31 Aug 2014.
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'.
Chicago has music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, Book by Bob Fosse & Fred Ebb.
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.
Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.
Bebe NeuwirthOriginally published on