Mica Paris to Join CHICAGO UK Tour as 'Mama Morton' This Winter

David Ian, producer of the international award-winning musical CHICAGO, has announced that platinum selling singer, Mica Paris, will star as 'Mama Morton' when the show plays Sunderland Empire from 28 November to 3 December 2016 and Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre for the Christmas season, from 12 December to 31 December 2016.

Also starring in CHICAGO are John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine.

Other cast include Daniele Arbisi, Nicola Coates, Frances Dee, Adam Denman, Francis Foreman, Waylon Jacobs, Justin-Lee Jones, Dann Kharsa, Chelsea Labadini, Ellie Mitchell, Peter Nash, Helen Siveter, Kerry Spark, Lindsey Tierney and Emily Warner.

Mica Paris is one of the UK's most respected female singers with a career of Top 10 hit singles and albums worldwide. The range, power and beauty of Mica Paris' singing made an immediate impact on the UK music scene in 1988 when she released her debut, platinum-selling album, 'So Good' from which she had her first top ten hit, 'My One Temptation'. More worldwide hit albums and singles followed including 'Black Angel', 'Stay' and 'Carefree'.

An incredible live performer worldwide, Mica has collaborated with, and been a special guest for many respected artists including Prince, Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Paul Rodgers, David Gilmour and Jools Holland.

Mica has also turned her talents to the stage, appearing in the West End productions of 'Mama I Want To Sing', 'The Vagina Monologues' and 'Sweet Lorraine' as well as a sell-out residency at Ronnie Scott's Club. Mica was most recently seen in the UK and Ireland tour of 'Love Me Tender.'

John Partridge is probably best known for playing the role of Christian Clarke in EastEnders. His many musical theatre credits include Rum Tum Tugger in Cats in the West End, on tour and the official film of the show, John in Miss Saigon on the first UK national tour and most recently Zach in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. John was also a judge on BBC1's Over the Rainbow, Andrew Lloyd Webber's search to find a Dorothy for the musical The Wizard of Oz.

Hayley Tamaddon has just finished playing Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street. She also played Del Dingle in Emmerdale. Her numerous theatre credits include The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show. Hayley also won the 5th series of ITV1's Dancing on Ice. Sophie Carmen-Jones' many West End credits include Jersey Boys, Wicked and We Will Rock You. She will also appear in the forthcoming Disney film Beauty and the Beast. Neil Ditt has appeared in many West End productions including Mary Poppins and Betty Blue Eyes. His other theatre credits include creating the role of George Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at Leicester Curve and High Society and A Midsummer Night's Dream, both at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. A.D. Richardson's many theatre credits include the International tour of The Pirates of Penzance, the UK tour of HMS Pinafore, the RSC's Cyrano De Bergerac and Scrooge The Musical at the New Theatre Oxford.

Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s, nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with cell block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, they fight to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics) and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse,CHICAGO's sexy, sassy score includes All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle. With 6 Tony, 2 Olivier, 1 Grammy, 2 Bafta and 6 Academy Awards, CHICAGO truly is "The sharpest, slickest show on the block" (The Times). A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin: it would be a crime to miss it.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.

CHICAGO opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews, winning the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical', and immediately became a sell-out hit running for 15 years. CHICAGO is currently playing in New York where it holds the record as the longest running musical revival and also the second longest running musical in Broadway history.

The 2016 UK National Tour of CHICAGO is produced by David Ian and Michael Watt in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

CHICAGO 2016 TOUR LISTINGS:
(www.chicagothemusical.com/uktour)

MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2016

BELFAST GRAND OPERA HOUSE www.goh.co.uk

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2016

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2016

GLASGOW KING'S THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre/

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2016

ABERDEEN HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 10 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER 2016

BROMLEY CHURCHILL THEATRE www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 17 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016

WOKING NEW VICTORIA THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 24 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2016

CANTERBURY MARLOWE THEATRE www.marlowetheatre.com/

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 31 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2016

NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Jessie Wallace as 'Mama Morton'

TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER - SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2016

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER - SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2016

SUNDERLAND EMPIRE THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire/

Mica Paris as 'Mama Morton'

MONDAY 12 DECEMBER - SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER 2016

NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/

Mica Paris as 'Mama Morton'