Chicago: Donna Marie Asbury plays Velma Kelly from 17 - 22 Sep

Donna Marie Asbury, who currently plays the minor role of 'June,' temporarily steps into the leading role of 'Velma Kelly' from 17 - 22 Sep 2009 in the Tony Award winning musical Chicago.

Ashbury is covering for Deidre Goodwin who is taking a pre-announced leave of absence, returning to the show on 24 Sep 2009.

Asbury made her Broadway debut at age 11 as the ballon girl in the 1974 revival of 'Gypsy.' Next she played 'Terry Turner' in the Stephen Sondheim/Harold Prince musical 'Merrily We Roll Along.' At age 19, Asbury portrayed 'Eva Peron' in the national tour of 'Evita' (the youngest actress ever to perform the role). Other Broadway credits include 'Smile' and 'Jerome Robbins' Broadway.'

Chicago now stars Donna Marie Asbury (Velma Kelly - Goodwin will not perform from 17 Sep - 22 Sep), 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.