George Hamilton, one of Hollywood's smoothest, tannest actors, will step into one of Broadway's smoothest, slickest roles sometime during the week of Nov. 12, when he joins the Chicago company as crooning lawyer Billy Flynn.

Hamilton was initially to start on the twelfth, but after only two weeks of rehearsal, it was decided to give him another couple of days to get acclimated. As such, production spokesperson Pete Sanders told Playbill On-Line (Nov. 9) Hamilton could start "as early as Nov. 15 or as late as Nov. 19." The role is being played by understudies in the interim.

Hamilton's three-month engagement will mark his Broadway debut after many appearances in film and TV. Among his pictures are "Love at First Bite," "Zorro, the Gay Blade," "Godfather III," and the forthcoming "Offkey" and Woody Allen's "The Hollywood Ending." He recently starred opposite Joan Collins in "Love Letters" in San Francisco.

Chicago, the hit revival of the 1975 Bob Fosse-John Kander-Fred Ebb musical about crime paying, continues its fifth year on Broadway. Hamilton plays corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn, who manages to get killers acquitted using his charm, bribes and good looks — to say nothing of his high baritone. "All I Care About is Love" and "Razzle Dazzle" are the role's signature songs.

Chicago is the second longest-running revival in Broadway history, next to the revival of Oh! Calcutta!, which played 5,959 performances at the Edison Theatre, 1976-1989. Current stars include Petra Nielsen as Roxy, Donna Marie Asbury as Velma, P.J. Benjamin as Amos and R Bean as Mary Sunshine. Roz Ryan starts as Mama Morton Nov. 12. Performances play the Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street. For reservations, call (212) 239-6200.