Kecia Lewis-Evans & Jeff McCarthy Join 'Chicago' March 18

On Tuesday, March 18, 2008, Broadway's razzle-dazzle hit musical Chicago is pleased to welcome Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone, Shrek) as Matron "Mama" Morton for an 11-week engagement through Sunday, June 1 at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre (219 West 49th Street).  Also on Tuesday, March 18, Broadway veteran Jeff McCarthy (The Pirate Queen, Urinetown) will begin an 11-week return engagement as slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn.

Kecia Lewis-Evans was most recently seen on Broadway as Trix the high-flying aviator in The Drowsy Chaperone. Her other Broadway credits include Once on This Island, Ain't Misbehavin', Big River, The Gospel at Colonus and Dreamgirls.  Her Off-Broadway credits include Dessa Rose, From the Mississippi Delta and Once on This Island.  Later this year, Lewis-Evans will originate the role of The Dragon in the new Broadway musical Shrek.

Jeff McCarthy most recently appeared on Broadway as Chieftain Dubhdara in The Pirate Queen. His other Broadway roles include Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, Terry Turner in Side Show, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Big Bob in Smile and Niko in Zorba, among others.  McCarthy first portrayed the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago last fall.

Chicago currently stars Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, John Schneider as Billy Flynn, Ron Orbach as Amos Hart and Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton.  As previously announced, Grammy Award winner Mýa will make her Broadway debut as Velma Kelly on Monday, May 12, 2008.

Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.

Now celebrating eleven glorious years of girls, guns, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical Chicago is currently the eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway's longest-running musical revival.

"Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously 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," describe press notes.

With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.          

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

Chicago plays on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). Now through Sunday, May 25, 2008, the regular performance schedule is as follows:

     Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM
     Tuesday and Sunday evenings at 7PM
     Saturday matinees at 2PM; Sunday matinees at 2:30PM

There is NO performance on Monday, March 17, and NO MATINEE performance on Easter Sunday, March 23.  There are ADDED performances on Wednesday, March 19 at 2PM & 8PM.

Tickets are scaled at $59 - $111.50 (all ticket prices include a $1.50 facility fee) and are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

A limited number of $26.50 rush tickets are available for purchase (cash only) at the box office only, on the day of each performance. There is a limit of two rush tickets per person.

Kecia Lewis-Evans