Ryan Silverman to Join Broadway's CHICAGO as 'Billy Flynn,' 8/30; Bianca Marroquin, Roz Ryan to Return in September

Summer may be winding down in New York City -- but things are just heating up at Broadway's record-breaking, Tony-winning smash hit musical CHICAGO!

On Friday, August 30, the company is pleased to welcome Ryan Silverman (The Phantom of the Opera, Passion) in his debut engagement in the role of "that silver-tongued Prince of the Courtroom" Billy Flynn.

He'll be joined on by celebrated CHICAGO veteran Roz Ryan (Dreamgirls, "Amen"), who returns as Matron "Mama" Morton on Sunday, September 1.

And beginning Monday, September 2, acclaimed leading lady and Latina superstar Bianca Marroquin reprises her star-making turn as "foxy" Roxie Hart.

Ryan Silverman most recently starred as Giorgio in the Off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Passion at Classic Stage Company. He also starred as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera both on Broadway and in Las Vegas. He has also been featured in Music in the Air at City Center Encores!; Cry-Baby on Broadway and The Most Happy Fella at New York City Opera.

In London's West End, he played Tony in the Olivier Award-nominated revival of West Side Story. He starred as Sky in the U.S. National Tour of Mamma Mia!, as Jose in the world premiere of the new musical Carmen at La Jolla Playhouse and in the Chicago production of Wicked.

His television and film credits include "Gossip Girl," "The 5 Minarets of New York," Sex and the City 2 and "True Blood." He has performed in concerts with The New York Pops, Philadelphia Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Seattle Symphony, The Cincinnati Pops, Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony and Edmonton Symphony, among others.

One of the CHICAGO family's most acclaimed performers, Roz Ryan has played the role of Matron "Mama" Morton on Broadway, on tour and internationally for more than twelve years.

Her other Broadway credits include Scandalous, Ain't Misbehavin', Dreamgirls, One Mo' Time, The Pajama Game and A Christmas Carol. Her national and international touring credits includeAnnie, South Pacific and Blues in the Night.

On television, Ms. Ryan is best known for her role as Amelia Hetebrink in the long-running NBC comedy "Amen," starring Sherman Hemsley. Her other television roles include Mae Palmer in "Barbershop" (Showtime) and Mrs. Dixon in "Good News" (UPN).

She can currently be seen as Aunt Sylvia on "The Rickey Smiley Show," airing Fridays at 9 p.m. on TV-One.

Her many television credits as a voiceover artist include "Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated," "The Looney Tunes Show" (Warner Bros.), "Kick Buttowski: Suburban Dardevil" (Disney Channel) and "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" (Cartoon Network).

Her film credits include Went to Coney Island, Cotton Club, I Think I Love My Wife, The Invention of Lying and Waiting for Forever.

Bianca Marroquin, who most recently concluded a successful yearlong engagement headlining the Mexico City premiere of Mary Poppins, began her stage career with the Mexico City productions of Beauty and the Beast, Rent, The Vagina Monologues, The Phantom of the Opera and CHICAGO.

For her Spanish-language portrayal of merry murderess Roxie Hart, Bianca received five awards from the Mexican Critics Association, including New Revelation and Best Actress.

Following her star-making turn in the Mexican production, in 2002 Bianca crossed over to Broadway and made her debut as Roxie Hart with the English version of CHICAGO, making her the first Latina actress in history to crossover to Broadway from her native production in a leading role.

Her other Broadway credits include In the Heights (Daniela) and The Pajama Game(Carmen). Her regional stage credits include And the World Goes Round at Barrington Stage andBye Bye Birdie at North Shore Music Theatre. She is the recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance in the National Tour of CHICAGO.

On Spanish television, she is well known as a judge on both the popular Univision dance competition series "Mira Quien Baila" ("Look Who's Dancing") and on Televisa's "Pequeños Gigantes" ("Little Giants"), plus a starring role on the Spanish soap opera "Esperanza del Corazon" ("Hope of the Heart"), also on Univision and Televisa.

CHICAGO also stars Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, Paul C. Vogt as Amos Hart and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is now the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history -- and it still shows no sign of ever slowing down!

Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

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.

Directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, CHICAGO features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.