Chicago: Bianca Marroquin assumes the role of 'Roxie Hart'

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Broadway musical Chicago welcomes back Mexican stage actress Bianca Marroquin to the role of merry murderess 'Roxie Hart' this evening (15 Sep 2008.) She assumes the role from 'Michelle DeJean' who played her final performance on 14 Sep 2008.

Marroquin first portrayed 'Roxie Hart' in the Mexico City production of Chicago in 2002. For that performance, she received five awards from the Mexican Critics Association, including New Revelation and Best Actress.

Following the success of that production, she was then invited to crossover from Mexico City to New York City, and made her English-language debut as 'Roxie Hart' on Broadway later that year. For that acheivement, Marroquin holds the distinction of being the first - and only - Latina actress to crossover from Mexico to Broadway in a leading role.

Marroquin returns to Chicago in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month, a nationwide observance to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. The observation was enacted in August 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. The annual celebration begins on 15 Sep and continues through to 15 Oct.

Chicago has been playing on Broadway since 14 Nov 1996, it moved to the Ambassador Theatre on the 29 Jan 2003 where it is currently booking through to 4 Jan 2009.

Chicago follows not your usual housewife, 'Roxie Hart,' who gains dubious notoriety when she kills her boyfriend, invents her defence and manipulates everyone from her trustworthy husband to the fickle media and the unsuspecting public. The show features the well known songs, 'All That Jazz,' 'Razzle Dazzle' and 'Mr. Cellophane'.

Chicago now stars Brenda Braxton (Velma Kelly), Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Tom Wopat (Billy Flynn), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Kevin Chamberlin (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).

Chicago has music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, Book by Bob Fosse & Fred Ebb.

The musical is directed by Walter Bobbie, with choreography by Ann Reinking, scene design by John Lee Beatty, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Scott Lehrer.

Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording. It is the eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway�s longest-running musical revival.