Mamma Morton's got a brand new look and it's Michele Pawk. The star of Seussical, Cabaret, Crazy for You and Triumph of Love takes over the Marica Lewis role Jan. 14, alongside the new Roxie and Velma, Belle Calaway and Roxane Carrasco.
Calaway performed in both the Broadway and First National Tour Chicago. Carrasco is veteran of Broadway, the national tour and the Lisbon productions.
Original cast member Mamie Duncan-Gibbs returns to the Chicago cast in the role of Annie. She comes directly from Kiss Me, Kate, where she appeared as Hattie.
Performances play the Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street. For reservations, call (212) 239-6200.
George Hamilton, currently making his Broadway debut starring as Billy Flynn in the Tony Award-winning musical revival, Chicago, extended his stay at the Shubert Theatre to Feb. 17. The film actor was under the weather Nov. 19 and didn't make his planned Broadway bow as Billy, but he went on Nov. 21, singing "Razzle Dazzle," and other vaudeville style numbers in the smash hit.
Nov. 14 marked the fifth anniversary of the Broadway revival of Chicago. The John Kander-Fred-Ebb Bob Fosse musical won six 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Revival and has had a revolving door of American and international stars playing the corrupt and comic characters over the years. Movie star Hamilton — smooth and perpetually tanned — plays the smooth lawyer Flynn opposite Nana Visitor as Roxie, Donna Marie Asbury as Velma, P.J. Benjamin as Amos, Roz Ryan as Mama Morton and R. Bean as Mary Sunshine.
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Hamilton was initially to start on Nov. 12, but after only two weeks of rehearsal, it was decided to give him another couple of days to get acclimated. His three month engagement marks his Broadway debut after many appearances in film and TV. Among his pictures are "Love at First Bite," "Zorro, the Gay Blade," "Godfather III," and the forthcoming "Offkey" and Woody Allen's "The Hollywood Ending." He recently starred opposite Joan Collins in "Love Letters" in San Francisco.
Billy Flynn manages to get killers acquitted using his charm, bribes and good looks — to say nothing of his high baritone. "All I Care About is Love" is his ironic first number.
Chicago, produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, is the second longest-running revival in Broadway history, next to the revival of Oh! Calcutta!, which played 5,959 performances at the Edison Theatre, 1976-1989. Walter Bobbie directed Chicago and Ann Reinking choreographed in the style of original creator Bob Fosse. The 1975 original staging starred Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera.
Performances play the Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street. For reservations, call (212) 239-6200.
