Sofia Vergara Has Bdwy Debut As Mama Morton In CHICAGO 4/27

As reported earlier today by PeopleEnEspanol.com, this spring, Sofía Vergara, one of the hottest Hispanic TV stars and one of the most beloved personalities of the Latino world, will make her Broadway stage debut as Matron "Mama" Morton, the reigning cellblock diva of the hit musical CHICAGO for a five-week limited engagement.

Vergara will first step into the role at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.) on Monday, April 27 through Sunday, May 24, 2009, before heading to Miami to headline the CHICAGO National Tour at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, May 26-31, 2009.

Upon completion of the Miami engagement, Vergara will return to the Broadway company Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7.

Vergara is set to start work on the new ABC-TV pilot "An American Family" next month.

Most recently, Vergara appeared on the big screen in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns and Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail for Lionsgate, and on ABC-TV's breakout hit "Dirty Sexy Money," where she played the free-spirited love interest to the youngest Darling son.

Before that, she played the sexy Columbian actress who stirred things up on last season's "Entourage" on HBO. In 2008 Vergara starred as Alicia in "Amasde Casa Desesperadas" the Latin-tailored version of the television megahit "Desperate Housewives." She also starred in the FOX comedy feature Chasing Papi.

Director Barry Sonnenfeld gave Vergara her big break in the U.S. when he cast her as Nina in Disney's comedy film, Big Trouble (2002), co-starring Tim Allen and Rene Russo. She followed that up with a pivotal dramatic role opposite James Marsden in Anthony Piccirillo's independent film The 24th Day (2004). The following year, Vergara starred opposite Mark Wahlberg and Terrence Howard in Four Brothers.

Vergara has graced the cover of over 100 international magazines and hosted dozens of top Hispanic events, each watched by more than 100 million viewers. Her Hispanic television credits include, "Fuera de Serie" ("Out of this World") on Univisión and her own top-rated weekly show, "A que no te atreves" ("I Dare You"). When she became the host of "La Bomba," a syndicated Latino talkshow, she caused a ratings explosion.

In 1999, Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú awarded Vergara with the Hispanic Woman of the Year Award, commending her leadership skills representing the qualities Latina women have to offer to the world. In 2001, she created "Peace and Hope for the Children of Colombia," a charity foundation that has helped thousands of children in her country and has donated a pediatric cancer pavilion in her native Barranquilla.

In 2002, Vergara was awarded the Women of Hope Award by the City of Hope Organization as one of the outstanding role models for future generations. In 2007, Sofia was named one of The 25 Most Powerful Hispanic Women in the Entertainment Industry by The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

Visit Sofia Vergara online at www.SofiaVergara.com.

[As previously announced, three-time Emmy Awrd nominee Chandra Wilson ("Grey's Anatomy") will assume the role of Matron "Mama" Morton on Monday, June 8.]

Now celebrating more than twelve glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, on Tuesday, March 24 the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO will become the seventh longest-running production in Broadway history (surpassing Rent with 5,125 total performances to-date) ... and it still shows no sign of ever slowing down!

CHICAGO features a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, and 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 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.

Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, CHICAGO has become a worldwide phenomenon. The record-breaking London production of CHICAGO continues to hold the record as the longest-running American musical in West End history.

CHICAGO is also currently on tour throughout the U.S. and Canada, with international tours to commence in Australia and the United Kingdom this month (March 2009).

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.

Also this year, international return engagements of CHICAGO are in the works for Korea, Japan and Holland, as well as the premiere production in Spain. International productions are slated for Argentina and Sweden in 2010, and Norway and Venezuela in 2011.

Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.

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.
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.

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