Chicago: Jerry Springer to play 'Billy Flynn' & Bianca Marroquin 'Roxie' from 18 Aug

Jerry Springer, who recently played the role of 'Billy Flynn' from 1 Jun - 11 Jul 2009 in the show's London production is to reprise his role on Broadway when he joins the cast of the Tony Award winning musical Chicago on *18 Aug through to 6 Sep 2009.
*Springer will not be performing on 24 Aug and 31 Aug 2009.

Springer assumes the role of 'Billy Flynn' from Brent Barrett who plays his final performance on 9 Aug 2009. During the short interregnum from 11 - 16 Aug 2009, the role of 'Billy Flynn' will be played by Jason Patrick Sands.

Springer is best known for presenting his show 'The Jerry Springer Show.' Springer, who is famous as a TV personality rather then as a song and dance man was offered the role in the London production after producers saw him as a contestant in ABC�s �Dancing With the Stars.�

NY Times theatre critic Ben Brantley wrote of Springer's performance, "He sings in a small, conversational, carefully amplified voice that is usually on key, approximates the dance moves without embarrassing himself and watches the stylized proceedings around him with an air that mixes detachment, amusement and � hold on for this � disapproval."

Also on 18 Aug Bianca Marroquin will assume the role of 'Roxie Hart' from Samantha Harris who plays her final performance on 16 Aug 2009.

Marroquin first portrayed 'Roxie Hart' in the Mexico City production of Chicago in 2002. For that performance, she received five awards from the Mexican Critics Association, including New Revelation and Best Actress. Following the success of that production, she was then invited to crossover from Mexico City to New York City, and made her English-language debut as 'Roxie Hart' on Broadway for the first time in 2002. This will be the fifth time she has played the role on Broadway.

In further casting news Ray Bokhour will assume the role of 'Amos Hart' from Tom Riis Farrell on 11 Aug 2009 and Terra Macleod wil assume the role of 'Velma Kelly' from Amra-Faye Wright on 24 Aug 2009.

Chicago currently stars Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Samantha Harris (Roxie Hart), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Roz Ryan (Mama Morton) Tom Riis Farrell (Amos) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

Now 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. The musical has recently extended its booking period through to 20 Dec 2009.

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.