Chicago: Deidre Goodwin returns to her role as 'Velma Kelly'

Deidre Goodwin, who took a leave of absence from 17 Sep - 22 Sep 2009, returns to her role as 'Velma Kelly' on 24 Sep 2009 in the Tony Award winning musical Chicago. Donna Marie Asbury, who plays the minor role of 'June,' covered the leading role of 'Velma Kelly' during Goodwin's absence.

Goodwin, who first played the role of 'Velma Kelly' in Chicago from 24 Jun - 5 Oct 2003, recently appeared on Broadway as 'Sheila 'in the 2006 revival of 'A Chorus Line.' Her other Broadway credits include 'Nine,' 'The Boys from Syracuse,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'The Rocky Horror Show.' Goodwin also appeared in the original Broadway production of 'Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life' and created the role of 'Velma' in 'Never Gonna Dance.'

Chicago now stars Deidre Goodwin, Bonnie Langford (Roxie Hart), Tom Hewitt (Billy Flynn), Roz Ryan (Mama Morton), Kecia Lewis-Evans (Mama Morton), Ray Bokhour (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

Celebrating twelve years 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.

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 4 Jul 2010.

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 eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway�s longest-running musical revival.