Chicago: Billy Ray Cyrus to play Billy Flynn

Multi-platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus is to make his Broadway debut from 5 Nov - 23 Dec 2012 starring as 'Billy Flynn' in the Tony Award winning musical Chicago.

Billy Ray Cyrus first came to fame with his breakthrough smash hits "Achy Breaky Heart" and "Some Gave All." He has sold more than 25 million albums internationally, and has had three No. 1 hit singles. Over the course of 11 studio albums since 1992, he has earned nearly 30 chart singles, including 15 Top 40 hits.

Over the last decade, Cyrus has established himself as TV and film actor, performing in lead roles such as the title character of the PAX-TV series "Doc" and as "Robby Ray Stewart" in the Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana."

Chicago currently stars Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Tracy Shayne (Roxie Hart), Tony Yazbeck (Billy Flynn), Carol Woods (Mama Morton), Raymond Bokhor (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

Now in its sixteenth year on the Great White Way, Chicago is the second longest-running production currently playing on Broadway, as well as 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 period through to 6 Jan 2013.

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. It is the fouth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway's longest-running musical revival.