A new national tour of the jazzy hit musical revival of Chicago has been reconstituted and begins Oct. 6-7 at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT, with Robert Urich headlining as Billy Flynn.
Chita Rivera is scheduled to join the tour later in the fall, at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 28-Dec. 3, according to the national press rep. The cast of the tour will change slightly as it continues into 2001. Rivera has a February 2001 commitment to star in Venecia at George Street Playhouse in New Jersey.
The Stamford Palace company features Robert Urich as Billy Flynn, Tracy Shayne as Roxie, Roxanne Carrasco as Velma, Michael Tucci as Amos, Roz Ryan as Matron Mama Morton and A. Saunders as Mary Sunshine.
The company continues to the Providence Performing Arts Center in Rhode Island, Oct. 10-15; the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota, FL, Oct. 17-22, with Gerry McIntyre joining; a booking in Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 25-Nov. 26; the Orpheum in Minneapolis, Nov. 28-Dec. 3, with Chita Rivera; the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach, CA, Dec. 6-10, with Chita Rivera; Boston's Colonial Theatre Dec. 26-31 with Chita Rivera; and other dates to come.
* The lifespan of two previous national companies of Chicago has played out already. The Broadway company of the wicked, comic and cynical tuner by Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb, is still going strong at the Shubert Theatre. The 1996 revival won six Tony Awards.
Walter Bobbie directs the tour, Ann Reinking choreographs. Rehearsals have been in nearby Manhattan. The Stamford Center for the Arts-Palace Theatre load-in began Oct. 2 and performances play 8 PM Oct. 6-7.
Tickets for the Stamford dates (two shows only) range $25- $55. The Palace is at 61 Atlantic Street in downtown Stamford. For information, call (203) 325-4466.
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Visit Chicago on the web at www.chicagothemusical.com.
