A spokesperson for the musical told Playbill.com, "We hope that he will return tonight [Oct. 9], as he is anxious to return." Usher recently extended his stay with the Kander and Ebb musical through Oct. 14. Christopher McDonald will succeed Usher as the slick lawyer beginning Oct. 15. Huey Lewis begins his second stint as Flynn Nov. 20.
The Broadway production of Chicago also features Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Rob Bartlett as Amos Hart, Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
Usher is a five-time Grammy Award-winning artist. His fifth album, "Confessions," was released in 2004 and sold over 15 million copies. The Hip-hop artist has also appeared in such films as "She's All That," "The Faculty," "Light it Up," "Geppetto," "Texas Rangers" and "In the Mix." His television credits include "The Twilight Zone," "7th Heaven," "Moesha" and "American Dreams." Chicago marks Usher's Broadway debut.
Chicago won the Tony Award 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 production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.
Chicago plays the Ambassador Theatre, located at 215 West 49th Street.