Chicago: Jeff McCarthy to play Billy Flynn

Due to Christopher Sieber being cast to replace Jeffrey Tambor in the role of 'Georges' in the Broadway musical La Cage aux folles, Jeff McCarthy will play 'Billy Flynn' from 8 - 25 Mar 2011 in Chicago, replacing Sieber who had previously been announced to play the engagement.

Brent Barret, who currently stars as 'Billy Flynn' is taking a leave of absence beginning 8 Mar 2011, retuning to the show on 26 Mar 2011, and performing through to 19 Jun 2011.

This is McCarthy's third appearance as 'Billy Flynn,' he first played the role in 2007. McCarthy's other Broadway credits include: 'Zorba,' 'Smile,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Side Show,' 'Urinetown' and 'The Pirate Queen.'

Chicago currently stars *Leigh Zimmerman (Velma Kelly), *Bianca Marroquin (Roxie), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Roz Ryan (Mama Morton), Raymond Bokhour (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).
As previously announced Amra Faye Wright will play 'Velma' and supermodel Christie Brinkley will make her Broadway as 'Roxie,' from 4 Apr 2011.

Now celebrating thirteen 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 now booking through to 18 Dec 2011.

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.