Chicago: Usher to make Broadway debut as Billy Flynn

5 time Grammy Award winner Usher will make his Broadway debut when he joins the cast of Chicago on 22 Aug 2006 starring as Billy Flynn. Usher will continue in the show until 1 Oct 2006.

Producer Barry Weissle said �Usher will certainly add excitement to the Broadway season with his many legions of fans experiencing live theatre. We could not be happier to have such a major star of the music world bring his talent to our show.�

�This is a very exciting time in my career,� says Usher. �Being on Broadway allows you to connect to audiences in a whole new way that�s different from music and movies. When they asked me to play Billy Flynn in Chicago, I jumped at the chance to be a part of such an amazing production.�

Chicago currently features Obba Babatunde (Billy Flynn), Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Charlotte d'Amboise as Roxie Hart, Raymond Bokhour as Amos, Lillias White as Matron "Mama" Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

The musical 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 the 31 Dec 2006.

The show 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.

Originally published on

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