TV Special: Tony Winners Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton and Joel Grey Light Up the Stage for CHICAGO's Record-Breaking 7,486 Performances
By: Robert Diamond Nov. 25, 2014
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On Sunday, November 23 (7 p.m.), in a celebratory landmark performance, the company of Broadway's record-breaking hit musical Chicago welcomed back its four original stars -- Tony Award winners Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton and Joel Grey. Chicago has surpassed the run of iconic Broadway blockbuster CATS with a record-breaking 7,486 performances, making it the second longest-running show in Broadway history. Only one show -- The Phantom of the Opera -- has run longer than Chicago. Check out footage from the special performance and interviews with the stars below!
Produced by Barry & Fran Weissler, Chicago opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14, 1996. It transferred to the Shubert Theatre in February 1997, and played there through January 26, 2003. The revival reopened at its current home -- the Ambassador Theatre -- three days later on January 29, 2003.
With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago received six 1997 Tony Awards for Best Musical Revival, Best Direction of a Musical (Walter Bobbie), Best Choreography (Ann Reinking), Best Lighting Design (Ken Billington), Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Bebe Neuwirth) and Best Leading Actor in a Musical (James Naughton).
Chicago now stars Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald as Billy Flynn, Paul C. Vogt as Amos Hart, Carmen Ruby Floyd as Matron "Mama" Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. The Chicago ensemble includes Donna Marie Asbury,Nicole Bridgewater, David Bushman, Jennifer Dunne, Kelcy Griffin, Adam Jepsen, J. Loeffelholz, Melissa Rae Mahon,Sharon Moore, Brian O'Brien, Alfie Parker Jr., Denny Paschall, Angel Reda, Jason Patrick Sands, Michael Scirrotto,Brian Spitulnik, Tonya Wathen and Adam Zotovich.
