Larisa Dolina Makes Broadway Debut as 'Mama Morton' in CHICAGO Tonight

Celebrated Russian actress and singer Larisa Dolina is the next international star to make her Broadway debut in the record-breaking, Tony Award-winning musical smash Chicago.

In the featured role of Matron "Mama" Morton, Dolina will play a limited eight-performance engagement at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre (219 West 49th Street), tonight, August 13 through Sunday, August 18.

At the conclusion of her Broadway run, Dolina will return to Moscow to reprise the role of "Mama" Morton in the forthcoming Russian production of Chicago, set to open in October.

Larisa Dolina is one of several international stars to make recent guest appearances (and Broadway debut engagements) with Chicago. Last year, Chicago welcomed acclaimed Peruvian stage and screen actor Marco Zunino in the role of Billy Flynn, and celebrated Japanese superstar Ryoko Yonekura as Roxie Hart, both to great box office success.

"As the producer of a long-running show like Chicago, we've seen first-hand the benefits of continually cultivating our international audiences," said producer Barry Weissler. "CHICAGO is now the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, and much of that achievement is thanks to the show's tremendous global reach. Practically every tourist who visits New York City has heard of Chicago. Not only have we played in 30 countries and in 12 different languages since 1996, but last year, we welcomed both Marco Zunino and Ryoko Yonekura to our Broadway cast, and the response from Latino and Japanese audiences was phenomenal. I'm thrilled that we're now able to present the stellar Larisa Dolina in her Broadway debut as 'Mama' Morton next month, and I'm looking forward to welcoming our Russian fans both old and new as well."

Larisa Dolina began her solo singing career in 1985, working with the Leningrad-based composer Viktor Reznikov. Soon after, she began to create and produce her own concert shows, including Zatyazhnoy Pryzhok (Long Jump), Kontrasty (Contrasts), L'dinka (Little Icicle) and Malen'kaya Zhenschina (Little Woman).

As an actress, Dolina appeared in the films Barkhatniy Sezon (Velvet Season), My Iz Dzhaza (We Are from the Jazz), Ostrov Pogibshih Korabley (Island of Sunken Ships)and Suvenir Dlia Prokurora (A Souvenir for the Prosecutor). Her songs have been featured in more than 70 live action and animated films.

In 2007, Dolina performed several George Gershwin compositions at the Gershwin Gala at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. In 2010, she played multiple roles in the musical Lyubov and Shpionazh (Love and Espionage), which was written specifically for her.

In 2011, Dolina performed "Summertime" and "Wonder Where You Are" at a concert at Crocus City Hall dedicated to the songs of jazz legend Al Jarreau. Both songs were part of her most recent album Hollywood Mood. Later that year, Dolina unveiled her new concert program Sny extraverta (Dreams of an Extrovert) in Kirov. She spent much of 2012 touring with the new concert and reprising her role in the musical Lyubov and Shpionazh. That same year, Dolina toured the United States, giving concerts in Boston, Las Vegas and New York.

Her numerous awards and honors include the Profi Award for Best Female Singer and Ovation Awards for Best Female Rock Singer and Best Female Pop Singer.

In the role of Matron "Mama" Morton, Larisa Dolina takes over for celebrated talk show host and author Wendy Williams, who concluded her Broadway debut engagement on Sunday, August. 11.

CHICAGO also stars Amy Spanger as Roxie Hart, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly,
Alexander Gemignani as Billy Flynn, Paul C. Vogt as Amos Hart and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.