Ryoko Yonekura will return to Broadway as Roxie Hart

Japanese star Ryoko Yonekura will return to the Broadway production of Kander & Ebb's Tony Award-winning musical Chicago this year, reprising the lead role of Roxie Hart for a total of 11 performances from 3 to 13 July, 2017. She previously made her Broadway debut in the role in July 2012. Following her Broadway engagement, she will join the U.S. national touring company for an international engagement at the Tokyo Theater Orb in Japan from August 2 to 13, 2017.

Ryoko Yonekura originated the role of 'Roxie Hart' in the Japanese-language production of Chicago in 2008 and reprised the role in 2010. Her other theatre credits include the role of Scarlet O'Hara in the Japanese stage adaptation of 'Gone With The Wind,' as well as playing Motoko Haraguchi in 'Kurokawa no Techo.' Her screen credits include "The Negotiator," "Arisa Matsui," "Nasake no Onna", "Monster Parent" and the roles of Samantha in the Japanese version of "Bewitched" and Surgeon Michiko Daimon in the hit Japanese TV series "Doctor X."

In other news, Broadway alum LaVon Fisher-Wilson announced via Twitter she will be returning to the Broadway production of Chicago on January 30, 2017. She will assume the role of Matron Mama Morton from NaTasha Yvette Williams. Her previous Broadway credits include 'Newsies,' 'Lysistrata Jones' and 'The Color Purple.'

The principal Broadway cast currently includes Mel B (Roxie Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Christopher Sieber (Billy Flynn), Raymond Bokhour (Amos Hart), NaTasha Yvette Williams (Matron Mama Morton), and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

Chicago features a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book by Bob Fosse & Fred Ebb. This revival production is directed by Walter Bobbie, with choreography by Ann Reinking.

The Broadway revival of Chicago began previews at the Ambassador Theatre on October 23, 1996, officially opening on November 14, and is currently booking through to July 2, 2017.

Synopsis: "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 such showtune classics as 'All That Jazz,' 'Razzle Dazzle' and 'Mr. Cellophane.'

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.

Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.