Chicago: Brian McKnight makes his Broadway Adriane Lenox to continue as Matron 'Mama' Morton

As previously announced Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum R&B singer Brian McKnight will make his Broadway debut this evening in the musical Chicago, when he takes to the stage as slickster criminal lawyer Billy Flynn, a role he will play through to 18 Nov 2007. McKnight assumes the role from George Hamilton.

Prior to Broadway McKnight performed the role in a two-week engagement at Washington D.C.�s Warner Theatre, with the Chicago national touring company, from 25 Sep - 7 Oct 2007.

McKnight is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and musician. He has released a total of ten R&B/pop albums in fifteen years, seven of which have gone platinum or multi-platinum.

Chicago 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 29 Jun 2008 2007.

In other casting news, Adriane Lenox has once again extended her engagement as Matron 'Mama' Morton, - a role she began to play from 7 Aug 2007, and will now continue through to 18 Nov 2007.

Chicago currently stars Brenda Braxton ( Velma Kelly), Michelle DeJean (Roxie Hart), Adriane Lenox (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Brian McKnight (Billy Flynn), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

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 eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway�s longest-running musical revival. The show will celebrate its 11th anniversary on 14 Nov 2007.

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.