UK Tour of CHICAGO Launches at New Theatre Oxford, Starring John Partridge, Hayley Tamaddon and Sam Bailey, Feb. 12

"Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery... all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts"... so begins the international award-winning musical CHICAGO, which opens a national tour at the New Theatre Oxford on Friday 12 February 2016 starring John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and Sam Bailey as Mama Morton. Tour schedule below with further dates to be announced. Full casting to be announced soon. www.chicagotour.co.uk

John Partridge is probably best known for playing the role of Christian Clarke in EastEnders. His many musical theatre credits include Rum Tum Tugger in Cats in the West End, on tour and the official film of the show, John in Miss Saigon on the first UK national tour and most recently Zach in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. John was also a judge on BBC1's Over the Rainbow, Andrew Lloyd Webber's search to find a Dorothy for the musical The Wizard of Oz. Hayley Tamaddon has just finished playing Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street. She also played Del Dingle in Emmerdale. Her numerous theatre credits include The Lady of the Lake inSpamalot and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show. Hayley also won the 5th series of ITV1's Dancing on Ice. Sam Bailey worked as a prison officer at HM Prison Gartree for three years until 2013. At the end of that year Sam won the tenth series of The X Factor receiving more than a million votes over the course of the final weekend. Following her win, her debut single Skyscraper was released and achieved the Christmas Number One. This was followed in 2014 with her debut album, The Power of Love, reaching number one in the album charts.

Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s, nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with cell block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, they fight to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics) and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO's sexy, sassy score includes All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle. With 6 Tony, 2 Olivier, 1 Grammy, 2 Bafta and 6 Academy Awards, CHICAGO truly is "The sharpest, slickest show on the block" (The Times). A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin: it would be a crime to miss it.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher.CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.

CHICAGO opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews, winning the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical', and immediately became a sell-out hit running for 15 years. CHICAGO is currently playing in New York where it holds the record as the longest running musical revival and also the second longest running musical in Broadway history.

The 2016 UK National Tour of CHICAGO will be produced by David Ian and Michael Watt in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

CHICAGO 2016 TOUR

www.chicagotour.co.uk

FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2016

NEW THEATRE OXFORD www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 29 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 5 MARCH 2016

DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 7 MARCH - SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2016

SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE www.mayflower.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 14 MARCH - SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2016

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

ON SALE NOW

(Sam Bailey will not be performing on 19 March)

MONDAY 21 MARCH - SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2016

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester

ON SALE NOW

(Sam Bailey will not be performing on 25 and 26 March)

MONDAY 4 APRIL - SATURDAY 9 APRIL 2016

BRADFORD ALHAMBRA www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 11 APRIL - SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016

EASTBOURNE CONGRESS THEATRE www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/congress-theatre

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 25 APRIL - SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2016

PRINCESS THEATRE TORQUAY www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 2 MAY - SATURDAY 7 MAY 2016

HALL FOR CORNWALL TRURO www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

WEDNESDAY 11 MAY - SATURDAY 21 MAY 2016

BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE DUBLIN www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 23 MAY - SATURDAY 28 MAY 2016

ROYAL & DERNGATE NORTHAMPTON www.royalandderngate.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

(Sam Bailey will not be performing on 25, 27 and 28 May)

MONDAY 30 MAY - SATURDAY 4 JUNE 2016

HAWTH THEATRE CRAWLEY www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 13 JUNE - SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2016

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 20 JUNE - SATURDAY 25 JUNE 2016

WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE www.grandtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

(Sam Bailey will not be performing on 25 June)

MONDAY 27 JUNE - SATURDAY 2 JULY 2016

SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILION www.southendtheatres.org.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 4 JULY - SATURDAY 9 JULY 2016

BRISTOL HIPPODROME www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

ON SALE SOON

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