A star of the silver screen and a star of the British and Australian stage will be the latest additions to the Broadway company of Chicago, come November.
Billy Zane, who played "Titanic" villain Cal Hockley in the blockbuster film, and Caroline O'Connor, who starred in the London revival of Mack and Mabel, will join the company of Kander and Ebb's Tony-winning musical Nov. 8.
Zane, who will be making his Broadway debut, will portray slick lawyer Billy Flynn, a role currently being played by former Rent star Taye Diggs. Zane recently starred in the ABC miniseries, "Cleopatra," and his other screen credits include "Dead Calm," "Sniper," "Tombstone," "Only You," "Orlando" and "Zoolander."
O'Connor will also be making her Broadway debut when she steps into the murdering shoes of Velma Kelly, a role she portrayed in the Australian production of the musical. Born in England, O'Connor's numerous theatrical credits include Man of La Mancha, Piaf, West Side Story, Bombshell, Cabaret, Me and My Girl, Is There Life After High School? and the aforementioned Mack and Mabel, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination. O'Connor appeared in the film "Moulin Rouge," and her solo recordings include "What I Did for Love," "A Tribute to Piaf" and "From Stage to Screen."
When Zane and O'Connor join Chicago — which will be celebrating its sixth anniversary — the company will also include Charlotte d'Amboise (Roxie Hart), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart) and Roz Ryan (Matron "Mama" Morton). Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago, presented by Barry and Fran Weissler, plays the Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street. There has been speculation in recent weeks that the show would vacate the Shubert to make way for the upcoming Gypsy revival and move to another Broadway house, but the Weisslers had no comment about that possibility.
Chicago won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking.
The original 1975 production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse. For ticket information, call (212) 239-6200.
