Eddie George to Join CHICAGO's Broadway Cast in January

NFL legend, Heisman Trophy winner and Nashville actor Eddie George will make his Broadway debut in January, taking on the role of Billy Flynn in the long-running Tony Award-winning musical Chicago.

George will succeed Broadway veteran Jason Danieley in the role of Billy Flynn. Danieley has a strong Nashville connection, as well, having performed at the city's late and lamentable Opryland USA theme park during its heyday.

George takes on the role of Billy Flynn, making his first appearance on Tuesday, January 11, 2016 - continuing in the role through Sunday, February 28, at the Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th Street.

George makes his Broadway debut in Chicago following stage appearances in such works as Matthew Lopez's The Whipping Man (Nashville Repertory Theatre), Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog (Amun Ra Theatre) and in the title roles of both Othello and Julius Caesar with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. His transition to the stage completes the journey following the conclusion of his NFL playing career, which saw him providing commentary and analysis for the Tennessee Titans and FOX's college football coverage.

Two directors who have worked with George ahead of performances on Nashville stages both predict that his Broadway performances in Chicago will be noteworthy, particularly given George's dedication to his craft, his hard work and his palpable charisma.

Rene Copeland, producing artistic director of Nashville Rep -- who directed George in his critically lauded performance in The Whipping Man -- Working with Eddie was an amazing experience. There is not a more dedicated actor, and I found him to be fearless, imaginative, smart, and collaborative. He is absolutely dedicated to the craft of acting--he started working on Whipping Man months in advance and I know he started working on Chicago almost as soon as he finished with Whipping Man -- and he has a strong natural stage presence and charisma that will serve this role particularly well. I couldn't be more pleased. He's a talented man, and I know he'll knock their socks off."

"When I heard that former NFL star Eddie George was interested in playing Julius Caesar for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, I made him audition like every other actor interested in the role," says director Beki Baker, who helmed Nashville Shakespeare Festival's production of Julius Caesar, in which George took on the title role. "I had no plans to give him a free pass, and I felt the audition process would weed out any passing interest. Eddie arrived prepared, serious, humble, and ready. It was a joy to work with him in every step of the process. He may have been new to theatre work, but he's not new to the ideas of professionalism, focus, and determination.

"He's one of the hardest-working actors I've directed and I'm thrilled to see him inviting more theatrical opportunities into his life. He'll be a great Billy Flynn - such charisma!"

George has also appeared onscreen in such TV series as NBC's American Dream Builders and in such films as Best Man Holiday and The Game Plan. George has worked to refine his craft onstage, including not only the credits indicated above, but also work with his Nashville-based theatrical troupe, Actors By George, which he founded in 2012.

From my BroadwayWorld.com Nashville review of George's performance in Nashville Rep's The Whipping Man:

"Eddie George, actor. After years of pursuing his dream, of plying his trade, perfecting his craft, it is now apparent that Eddie George - the once and future Tennessee Titan, pro football Hall of Fame member, Heisman Trophy winner, the very personification of professional sports in a town known worldwide as Music City USA - is one of this region's finest actors. He's paid his dues and in doing so, he silences his detractors with his most recent onstage role in Nashville Rep's stunning production of Matthew Lopez's The Whipping Man...Sharing the stage with James Rudolph and Matthew Rosenbaum - two of Nashville's most versatile and accomplished young actors - George commands the stage with confidence, taking on the role of Simon in Lopez's tale of post-Civil War regrets and recriminations with an unbridled sense of purpose and determination that is at once searing and enlightening."

Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 while playing for the Ohio State University. That honor served as the prelude to a nine-year career in the NFL, which saw him lead the Tennessee Titans to Super Bowl xxIV and selected to the Pro Bowl four consecutive years, finishing his career with the Dallas Cowboys under legendary coach Bill Parcells. Since the conclusion of his playing career, George has received his MBA from Northwestern University and founded Edward George Wealth Management Group. He resides in Nashville with his wife of 11 years, Tamara Johnson, and his family. He is also on the board of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville.

Chicago currently stars actress and Dancing with the Stars winner Rumer Willis as Roxie Hart (thru November 1 only), international stage sensation Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, Jason Danieley (a veteran of show's at Nashville's late Opryland USA theme park) as Billy Flynn, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Matron "Mama" Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. Actress and TV sensation NeNe Leakes (Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta) will join the production in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton for 4 weeks only, November 23-December 20.

About CHICAGO: With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago is now the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

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.

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.

Tickets for Chicago are available through Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200, and in-person at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.; New York, NY) box office. Regular box office hours are 10 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7:00 pm Sunday.

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