Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen, a onetime Judas of Broadway's Jesus Christ Superstar and the Leading Player of Broadway's Pippin, ends his run as Billy Flynn in the Las Vegas company of Chicago Aug. 29.

Vereen began with the company in Toronto prior to the Vegas stand and played opposite Chita Rivera until she moved to the London company.

Tony Award-winner Hal Linden, a New York musical theatre fixture in the 1960s and early 70s before becoming TV's "Barney Miller," steps into Vereen's shoes Aug. 31 at the Mandalay Bay Resort. Linden was last seen in New York taking over for Eli Wallach in Visiting Mr. Green.

*

Linden geared up for the Vegas stint by playing Flynn in the "Roxie" national tour in Madison, WI, Aug. 4, and went on to Hartford, CT, Aug. 6 8, and St. Louis, MO, Aug. 10-15. That tour went on a six-week hiatus Aug. 22. The Vegas staging, which opened March 1999 at the Mandalay Bay Resort, is expected to continue at least into early 2000. Linden's co-stars are Jasmine Guy, Charlotte d'Amboise, Roz Ryan (as Mama Morton) and Michael Tucci as hapless Amos.

For information about Chicago at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino call (877) 632-7400.