Williams will begin performances July 13 for a run to Aug. 22. She will succeed Aoife Mulholland, who will play the role until July 11.
The London company of Chicago currently features Ian Kelsey as Billy Flynn and Rachel McDowall as Velma Kelly, who will respectively be replaced by Jerry Springer and Leigh Zimmerman June 1. The cast also includes David Ganly as Amos Hart and Gina Murray as Mama Morton.
Williams has previously appeared onstage in the title role of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida on Broadway and in the national tour of The Color Purple in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, playing the role of blues singer Shug Avery. She released her solo debut album in 2002, "Heart to Yours," which charted as the best-selling gospel album of that year and spawned the single "Heard a Word." She also released "Do You Know" in 2004 and "Unexpected” in 2008. In 2004, she also reunited with Knowles and Rowland to make a fourth Destiny's Child studio album, "Destiny Fulfilled," that was followed by a world tour, after which they officially disbanded. On TV, Williams has appeared in "Half & Half," and on the reality TV show "Celebrity Duets."
Chicago is currently booking to Oct. 30, 2010. To book tickets, call the box office at 0844 412 4652 or visit www.chicagothemusical.co.uk.