Paulo Szot to star in 'Chicago' on Broadway

The opera star is set for two limited engagements as Billy Flynn in Broadway's longest-running American musical.

Razzle dazzle 'em, Paulo! Tony Award winner and Opera star Paulo Szot will return to Broadway in the New Year to star as Billy Flynn in the longest-running American musical, Chicago. He is set to play two limited engagements as Billy Flynn at the Ambassador Theatre, from January 6 through January 31 and then again from March 16 through May 19, 2020.

Mr. Szot previously made his Broadway debut as Emile de Becque in the 2008 revival of South Pacific, winning a Tony Award for 'Best Actor In A Musical,' alongside a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Theatre World Award. He has starred in operatic productions in the most revered venues across the globe, including New York's Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, London's Barbican and SouthBank Center, Madrid's Teatro Real, the Scala di Milano, and the Paris Opera just to name a few.

The principal Broadway cast currently includes Charlotte d'Amboise (as Roxie Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (as Velma Kelly), Tom Hewitt (as Billy Flynn), Raymond Bokhour (as Amos Hart), Raena White (as Matron 'Mama' Morton), and R. Lowe (as Mary Sunshine).

As previously announced, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills favorite Erika Jayne is set to make her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart from January 6 through March 29, 2020.

Directed by Walter Bobbie, with choreography by Ann Reinking, Chicago features a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb.

Synopsis: "Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago's slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today's tabloids."

The creative team features scenic design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

The Broadway revival of Chicago began previews at the Ambassador Theatre on October 23, 1996, officially opening on November 14, 1996. The production went on to become the winner of six Tony Awards (including "Best Musical Revival") and the winner of the Grammy Award for "Best Musical Cast Recording," with the tuner featuring such showtune classics as "All That Jazz," "Razzle Dazzle," and "Mr. Cellophane," among others.

Chicago is produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler.

Chicago tickets are available now for performances through December 6, 2020.

(Photo courtesy of Boneau/Bryan-Brown)