McDonald to Succeed Usher in Broadway's Chicago

By Andrew Gans
October 4, 2006

Christopher McDonald will return to the Broadway company of Chicago Oct. 15.

McDonald will succeed five-time Grammy Award winner Usher in the role of Billy Flynn. Film and TV star McDonald is scheduled to portray the slick lawyer through Nov. 19; Huey Lewis begins his second stint as Flynn Nov. 20.

Christopher McDonald made his Broadway debut in July 2005 in Chicago. The actor has appeared in numerous films and television productions. Among his most recent credits are "Fat Actress," "Cracking Up," "Grind," "Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams," "Speakeasy," "The Man Who Wasn't There," "The Theory of the Leisure Class" and "The Perfect Storm." He has also appeared in "Grease 2," "Dutch," "Thelma & Louise," "Quiz Show" and "Happy Gilmore."

The Broadway production of Chicago currently features Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Usher as Billy Flynn, Rob Bartlett as Amos Hart, Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. Usher plays his final performance Oct. 14.

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.