Singer Michelle Williams is CHICAGO-Bound

It has been confirmed that former Destiny's Child songbird Michelle Williams is Chicago-bound. Williams will portray the wannabe star-turned-murderess Roxie Hart for a limited run from February 8 to March 28. Williams will be taking over the role from Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, who debuted in the revival on December 1.

No stranger to the role or the stage, Williams first played Roxie last year in London's West End production at the Cambridge Theatre. Her limited engagement proved so successful that it was extended an additional three weeks by popular demand.  

Singer-songwriter-performer Michelle Williams rose to international renown after joining Destiny's Child, the top-selling female group of all time, in 2000. As a member of Destiny's Child, Michelle received three Grammy Awards and performed on several #1 hit singles by the group.

Following the success of Destiny's Child, Williams became the first member of the group to release a solo record. Her 2002 solo debut album - the gospel-infused Heart To Yours - entered the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #1, peaked at #3 on the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart and became the year's top-selling Gospel album.

Her second solo album, Do You Know, achieved similar success to her debut, peaking at #2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and #3 on the Top Christian Albums chart following its release in 2004.

Released in October 2008, Unexpected, her third solo album, introduced a bold new dance/pop sound for Williams, showcased by the #1 Billboard Hot Dance tracks "We Break the Dawn" and "The Greatest."

Michelle made her television acting debut in February 2006 on the UPN comedy series, "Half & Half."

Williams made her Broadway stage debut in 2003, replacing R&B icon Toni Braxton in the title role of Disney's Aida. In April 2007, she joined the national touring company of the hit musical The Color Purple, performing extended runs in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix with members of the original Broadway cast.

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO celebrated its 13th anniversary on The Great White Way.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, CHICAGO will reach yet another major milestone when it becomes the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history, surpassing Beauty and the Beast with a total of 5,462 performances!

"It is such an unbelievable thrill to mark these two amazing milestones," said CHICAGO producer Barry Weissler. "With each passing year, I am constantly amazed by the overwhelming love that audiences have for our show, and it's remarkable to see that loved expressed performance after performance, all over the world. In the past 13 years, we've played in 24 countries and in 11 different langauges for more than 18 million people. It's truly extraordinary."

The revival of CHICAGO began its journey to becoming an international, billion-dollar stage success in the summer of 1996. After its celebrated rediscovery at City Center Encores!, the production opened to rave reviews on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14, 1996, with a phenomenal cast headlined by Ann Reinking as Roxie Hart, Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly, Tony Award winner James Naughton as Billy Flynn and Joey Grey as Amos Hart.

CHICAGO then transferred to the Shubert Theatre on February 11, 1997. Nearly six years later, on January 29, 2003, it transferred a second time to its current Broadway home, the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

The Broadway production now stars British stage sensation Bonnie Langford as Roxie Hart, Deidre Goodwin as Velma Kelly, Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn and Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart.

In addition to Broadway, CHICAGO is currently enjoying a successful tour throughout North America, with upcoming engagements set for Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Cleveland, Los Angeles and many more.

Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, CHICAGO has become a worldwide theatrical phenomenon. The acclamied London production continues to hold the record as the longest-running American musical in West End history, and will celebrate 12 years there in December.

CHICAGO can also be seen on tour through the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as upcoming productions in Holland (opening November 15, 2009), Spain (opening November 26, 2009) and Korea (opening December 17, 2009).

International return engagements are slated for Japan in 2010 and Sweden in 2011.

Other previous international engagements include productions in Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and most recently, Thailand.

With a legendary 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.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who 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.

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

Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information, including details for CHICAGO's new "Lucky 13 Giveaway," an enter-to-win contest with prizes including boxed CD/DVD sets, show tickets, autographed posters and much more. In celebration of the 13th anniversary, this 13-day contest begins on Sunday, November 1.

CHICAGO plays on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). The regular weekly performance schedule is as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m.;
Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets 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.

For more information on Michelle Williams, visit www.michellewilliamsonline.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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