McCarthy had been scheduled to begin performances Dec. 3, but his rehearsal period was delayed due to the recent stagehands strike. The actor will stay with the production of the Kander and Ebb musical through Jan. 13, 2008. On Jan. 14 "Dukes of Hazzard" star John Schneider will succeed McCarthy in the role created in this revival by James Naughton.

Jeff McCarthy has been seen on Broadway in The Pirate Queen, Urinetown, Side Show, Beauty and the Beast, Smile, Zorba and Pirates of Penzance and Off-Broadway in Dream True and Sympathetic Magic. His other theatrical credits include The Opposite of Sex, Les Misérables, Three Sisters, City of Angels, Arms and the Man, Follies, The Misanthrope, Henry IV, Sunday in the Park with George and A Lie of the Mind. McCarthy's screen credits include "Law & Order," "Star Trek," "L.A. Law," "Cheers," "Designing Women," "Heat of the Night," "RoboCop II," "Eve of Destruction," "Rapid Fire" and "Cliffhanger."

The Chicago company currently features Michelle DeJean as Roxie Hart, Tony nominee Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Aida Turturro ("The Sopranos") as Matron Mama Morton and Vincent Pastore ("The Sopranos") as Amos Hart.

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.

Chicago plays the Ambassador Theatre, located at 215 West 49th Street.

For more information, visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com.