Dates Set for CHICAGO Tour; Bastian, Booth, Dorgu to Star

David Ian in Association with Barry and Fran Weissler Presents the UK National Tour of Chicago opening at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre on Friday, Feburary 10, 2012. 

The tour will star Ali Bastian (Roxie Hart), Stefan Booth (Billy Flynn), Tupele Dorgu (Velma Kelly) and Bernie Nolan (Mama Morton).

“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts”… so begins the international award-winning musical CHICAGO, which begins a national tour at Bradford Alhambra Theatre on Friday 10 February 2012 starring Ali Bastian as Roxie Hart, Stefan Booth as Billy Flynn, Tupele Dorgu as Velma Kelly and BErnie Nolan as Mama Morton. Full tour schedule attached.

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, Fred Ebb 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.

Ali Bastian has been a regular fixture on British TV screens for over nine years, having played the long-running roles of Becca in Hollyoaks and Sally Armstrong in The Bill. More recently, Ali took part in the 2009 series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing where she reached the semi-finals. Theatre credits include Helen in the UK Tour of Verdict, Burn the Floor at the Shaftesbury Theatre and the UK Tour of Strictly Live 2010. Stefan Booth was recently seen playing Tanya’s husband Greg Jessop in EastEnders. He is also well known for playing the regular roles of Sergeant Marc Rollins in The Bill and Jamie Nash in Hollyoaks. Other TV credits include William & Mary, Doctors and The Silence, as well as reaching the finals of the first series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice. Tupele Dorgu is best known as Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street, a role she played for six years.

Other television credits include The Case, The Accused, Waterloo Road, Casualty and the regular role of Natalie Vance in Merseybeat. Theatre credits include Mamma Mia! in the West End. BErnie Nolan was the lead singer with The Nolans from 1974 until 1994 and with her sisters has enjoyed phenomenal success both in this country and abroad. On stage Bernie has toured the UK many times, most recently as Cora in Calendar Girls, Hannah Owens in Flashdance, Robin in Mum’s The Word and Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers. Television

credits include Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy in The Bill, Diane Murray in Brookside and most recently the first series of ITV’s Popstar to Opera Star where she was a finalist.

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. The show in London, now at the Garrick Theatre, has just entered its fifteenth year. CHICAGO currently plays in New York and Spain as well as the West End.

The National UK Tour of CHICAGO will be produced by David Ian Productions in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

www.chicagotour.co.uk

2012/2013 NATIONAL TOUR

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2012
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA THEATRE
Box Office 01274 432 000 | www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

MONDAY 20 - SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2012
HULL NEW THEATRE
Box Office 01482 300 300 | www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullnewtheatre

MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 3 MARCH 2012
SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILION
Box Office 01702 351135 | https://southendtheatres.org.uk

MONDAY 5 - SATURDAY 10 MARCH 2012
BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA THEATRE
Box Office 0844 871 3011 | www.alexandratheatre.org.uk

MONDAY 12 - SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2012
SOUTHSEA KINGS THEATRE
Box Office 023 9282 8282 | www.kings-southsea.com

MONDAY 19 - SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2012
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
Box Office 0844 871 3019 | www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk

MONDAY 26 - SATURDAY 31 MARCH 2012
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
Box Office 0844 871 3022 | www.sunderlandempire.org.uk

MONDAY 2 - SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2012
IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE
Box Office 01473 433100 | https://apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO/

MONDAY 16 - SATURDAY 21 APRIL 2012
YORK OPERA HOUSE
Box Office 0844 871 3024 | www.grandoperahouseyork.org.uk

MONDAY 23 - SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2012
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
Box Office 0844 871 3014 | www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk

MONDAY 30 APRIL - SATURDAY 5 MAY 2012
RHYL PAVILION
Box Office 01745 330 000 | www.rhylpavilion.co.uk

MONDAY 7 - SATURDAY 12 MAY 2012
TUNBRIDGE WELLS ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE
Box Office 01892 530613 | www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

MONDAY 14 - SATURDAY 19 MAY 2012
WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE
Box Office 01902 42 92 12 | www.grandtheatre.info

MONDAY 21 - SATURDAY 26 MAY 2012
LEICESTER DEMONTFORT HALL
Box Office 0116 233 3111 | www.demontforthall.co.uk

MONDAY 4 - SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2012
EASTBOURNE CONGRESS THEATRE
Box Office 01323 412000 | www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

MONDAY 11 – SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2012
GRIMBSY AUDITORIUM
Box Office 0844 871 3016 | www.atgtickets.com/grimsbyauditorium

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED