Clarke Peters, the American-born actor who has made a career in London, will play Billy Flynn in Broadway's Chicago Jan. 25-Feb. 13, taking over for Robert Urich, who has chosen to leave his contract early.

A spokesman said Urich, who had played the slick, singing lawyer on the road prior joining the Broadway company at the Shubert Theatre, may return to the show come summer.

Brent Barrett returns to the role Feb. 15.

Peters appeared as Joe Mott in 1999's The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and penned the musical revue, Five Guys Named Moe. He played Billy Flynn (singing "Razzle Dazzle" and more) in the London staging of the hit revival.

The 1996 Best Revival Tony Award-winner, a sleek reconsideration of the 1975 John Kander-Fred Ebb-Bob Fosse musical, also currently stars Bebe Neuwirth, Belle Calaway, Marcia Lewis and Ernie Sabella. Urich's return to the stage and to a syndicated TV acting career (on TV's "Love Boat: The Next Wave") was seen as a triumph following a bout with cancer.