The long-running musical will surpass Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats with a record-breaking total of 7,486 performances.
"When the revival of Chicago first opened on Broadway in 1996, a milestone like this would have truly exceeded my wildest dreams," said producer Barry Weissler in a statement. "Yet here we are -- just a few weeks away from becoming the second-longest running show in Broadway history! Eighteen years ago, Walter Bobbie and Ann Reinking recreated a musical masterpiece that has withstood the test of time, and it's with great honor that I look forward to sharing their masterpiece with audiences for many more years to come."
Producer Fran Weissler added, "This incredible moment is a testament not only to the unparalleled genius of the Chicago creators -- John Kander, Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse -- but to the magnificent contributions from countless actors, musicians, stagehands, dance captains, crew members, advertising and marketing gurus, stage managers, production managers and more who have participated in our show these past 18 years. They continually succeed at being the absolute best in the business!"
This fall, Chicago will launch its 16th national touring Broadway production, a 30-city itinerary that includes return engagements to New Orleans, San Francisco, Kansas City, Washington D.C., Baltimore and many more. That touring company will also play a three-week debut engagement in Manila over the holidays.
The Broadway company now features Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald as Billy Flynn (through Oct. 5), Paul C. Vogt as Amos Hart (through Oct. 26), Olivier Award nominee Carol Woods as Matron "Mama" Morton (through Sept. 28) and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. The ensemble includes Donna Marie Asbury, Nicole Bridgewater, David Bushman, Jennifer Dunne, Anne Horak, Adam Jepsen, J. Loeffelholz, Melissa Rae Mahon, Sharon Moore, Brian O'Brien, Alfie Parker Jr., Denny Paschall, Stephanie Pope, Jason Patrick Sands, Michael Scirrotto, Brian Spitulnik, Tonya Wathen and Adam Zotovich.
Chicago features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, musical supervision by Rob Fisher and musical direction by Leslie Stifelman.
The revival of Chicago began life as one of the three annual Encores! presentations offered by City Center. The musical opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in November 1996 where it remained through February 1997. The musical transferred to the Shubert Theatre on Feb. 11, 1997, and played that house through Jan. 26, 2003. The revival reopened at the Ambassador Theatre, its current home, on Jan. 29, 2003.
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.
The Ambassador Theatre is located at 219 W. 49th Street.
Visit ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.
