Henshall to Reprise Roxie Hart in London's Chicago; Langford Will Also Return

By Mark Shenton
03 Dec 2009

Ruthie Henshall will return to the London production of Chicago to reprise the role of Roxie Hart, which she originated when the show first opened in the West End in 1997. She was nominated for the Olivier Award for her turn.

She will begin performances at the Cambridge Theatre Dec. 14 for a nine-week run through Feb. 28, 2010, except for the period Dec. 28 to Jan. 2 for which she is already contracted at selected performances to other commitments. On these occasions, Bonnie Langford, who has previously played the role in both the West End and on Broadway, will return to the production.

Henshall has also previously done a Broadway stint in the show, when she swapped roles to take over as Velma Kelly in 1999. She also subsequently reprised the role of Velma in the West End as well in 2003. She has also appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon and Putting it Together, Off-Broadway in David Ives' The Other Woman and at City Center in the Encores! production of Stairway to Paradise. She was last seen in the West End in the title role of the Boublil/Schonberg/Legrand musical Marguerite at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in 2008. Other West End credits include The Woman in White, Cats, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Oliver! and Peggy Sue Got Married. She was Olivier nominated for starring in the West End transfer of Crazy for You, and won the award for her performance in She Loves Me. Her solo albums are entitled "Pilgrim," "The Ruthie Henshall Album" and "Love Is Here to Stay."

Langford, who was Rumpleteaser in the original production of Cats at the New London Theatre, has previously played Roxie Hart in the West End in separate seasons in 2006 and 2007. She has also played the role this year in Montreal, Ottawa and on Broadway. As a child star, she appeared as Baby June in the 1973 West End revival of Gypsy opposite Angela Lansbury, and subsequently reprised that performance at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre the following year, for which she received a Drama Desk nomination. Other West End credits include playing the title roles of Peter Pan and Sweet Charity, as well as Me and My Girl and The Pirates of Penzance. She has toured with Fosse and Guys and Dolls. Henshall and Langford will be joined by Terra C Macleod, who makes her London stage debut as Velma Kelly from Dec. 14 for a two-month season. She originated this role in the French-language productions of Chicago in both Montreal and Paris, and has also done a stint in the role on Broadway and in the U.S. national tour.

Ian Kelsey and David Ganly continue as Billy Flynn and Amos Hart respectively.

Chicago is currently booking through Oct. 30, 2010. To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 412 4652, or visit www.chicagothemusical.co.uk