On Sept. 20, John Barrowman, currently on the London stage in the hit revival of Anything Goes, will replace David Hasselhoff in the role of slick lawyer Billy Flynn. And, English soap star Jennifer Ellison will begin her stint as merry murderess Roxie Hart that same day; Ellison replaces Rebecca Thornhill. Jennifer Ellison is best known to U.K. audiences for her role as Emily Shadwick on the television soap opera "Brookside." She is also a dancer and a recording artist; in fact, she recently released a single entitled "Baby I Don't Care." Ellison will be seen this Christmas as Meg Giry in the film of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."

John Barrowman is currently reprising his role as Billy Crocker in the National Theatre's production of Anything Goes at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He originally played the role opposite Elaine Paige in 1989. On Broadway, the actor starred in the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together and also made a guest appearance in the New York company of Sunset Boulevard, repeating his London role as Joe Gillis. Barrowman's other London theatrical credits include Grease!, The Phantom of the Opera, The Fix, Miss Saigon and Beauty and the Beast. Barrowman also starred on two U.S. television programs, "Central Park West" and "Titans," and can now be seen in the Cole Porter biographical film "De-lovely."

Chicago opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London in 1997, where it is still playing. The musical features a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and the late Bob Fosse. Walter Bobbie and Ann Reinking were, respectively, the director and choreographer of the London staging. They also handled the same duties for the Broadway revival, now playing the Ambassador Theatre.