Chicago: B'way's 4th longest running show

On 29 Aug 2011, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical Chicago will reach yet another major milestone when it becomes the the longest-running American musical in Broadway history as well as the fourth-longest running production in Broadway history, surpassing 'A Chorus Line' with a total of 6,138 performances!

As of that date, the top ten longest-running Broadway productions will be as follows (* indicates the production is still running):

• 1. * The Phantom of the Opera (9,810)
• 2. Cats (7,485)
• 3. Les Miserables (6,680)
• 4. * CHICAGO (6,138)
• 5. A Chorus Line (6,137)

"What a momentus occasion this is!" said producer Barry Weissler. "Of course we're thrilled to take the number four position in the list of long-runners, but to also celebrate the fact that Chicago is now the longest-running American musical in Broadway history makes it all the more spectacular. And just as Velma Kelly sings, we couldn't have done it alone. This milestone would never have happened without the amazing group of people who've lent their talents and expertise to our production over the past 15 years -- the phenomenal cast, crew, production team, stage managers, advertising and marketing executives, business managers, casting directors, ushers, musicians, dance captains...and the list goes on. And of course, our incredible and enthusiastic audiences. Over five million people have seen Chicago on Broadway to-date, and they just keep coming. It's truly a phenomenon worth celebrating."

Now celebrating almost fifteen years on the Great White Way, Chicago is the second longest-running production currently playing on Broadway, as well as Broadway's longest-running musical revival.

The show has been playing on Broadway since 14 Nov 1996, it moved to the Ambassador Theatre on the 29 Jan 2003, where it is now booking through to 1 Jul 2012.

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'.

The company currently stars *Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Velma Kelly), **Charlotte d'Amboise (Roxie Hart), Tony Yazbeck (Billy Flynn), Carol Woods (Mama Morton), Chris Sullivan (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).
*Amra-Faye Wright assumes the role of 'Velma Kelly' from 5 Sep 2011
**Kara DioGuardi assumes the role of 'Roxie Hart' from 5 Sep 2011.

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.