DioGuardi will step into the role of merry murderess Roxie Hart for an eight-week limited engagement, Sept. 5-Oct. 30.
It was also recently announced that Bravo is developing a reality show tentatively entitled "Kara," which will focus on her life mentoring young songwriters, and her company, Arthouse.
In other Chicago casting news, two-time Tony nominee Charlotte d'Amboise will return to the Broadway company of Chicago June 24 in the role of Roxie Hart. She will succeed supermodel Christie Brinkley, who plays her final performance at the Ambassador Theatre June 19. Lombardi's Chris Sullivan will make his Chicago debut June 20 when he steps into the role of put-upon husband Amos Hart; he follows Raymond Bokhour, who also ends his run June 19. Christopher Sieber, the Tony-nominated Shrek star, will return to the role of slick lawyer Billy Flynn June 23, replacing Brent Barrett, who also ends his run June 19. And, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown's Nikka Graff Lanzarone will make her Chicago debut in the role of Velma Kelly beginning July 6; Amra-Faye Wright ends her run in that part July 3. (In cases where there are gaps between end dates and start dates, understudies will play the roles.)
Carol Woods and R. Lowe continue in the roles of Matron "Mama" Morton and Mary Sunshine, respectively.
As previously reported, Brinkley and Wright will begin a four-week engagement in the London production of Chicago beginning July 11. 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 Nov. 1996 where it remained through Feb. 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 West 49th Street.
Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.
