Chicago: Sof�a Vergara to play Matron "Mama" Morton from 27 Apr

Hispanic TV star Sof�a Vergara will make her Broadway stage debut as 'Matron "Mama" Morton,' the reigning cellblock diva of the hit musical Chicago for a five-week limited engagement.

Vergara will first step into the role at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre on 27 Apr through to 24 May 2009, before heading to Miami to headline the Chicago National Tour at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 26 - 31 May 2009.

Upon completion of the Miami engagement, Vergara will return to the Broadway company on 1 - 7 Jun 2009.

Vergara is set to start work on the new ABC-TV pilot 'An American Family' next month.

Most recently, Vergara appeared on the big screen in Tyler Perry's 'Meet the Browns' and Tyler Perry's 'Madea Goes to Jail' for Lionsgate, and on ABC-TV's 'Dirty Sexy Money,' where she played the free-spirited love interest to the youngest Darling son.

Before that, she played the sexy Columbian actress who stirred things up on last season's 'Entourage" on HBO.' In 2008 Vergara starred as 'Alicia' in 'Amasde Casa Desesperadas' the Latin-tailored version of the television megahit 'Desperate Housewives.' She also starred in the FOX comedy feature 'Chasing Papi.'

Director Barry Sonnenfeld gave 'Vergara' her big break in the U.S. when he cast her as 'Nina' in Disney's comedy film, 'Big Trouble' (2002), co-starring Tim Allen and Rene Russo. She followed that up starring opposite James Marsden in Anthony Piccirillo's independent film'The 24th Day' (2004). The following year, Vergara starred opposite Mark Wahlberg and Terrence Howard in 'Four Brothers.'

Vergara has graced the cover of over 100 international magazines and hosted dozens of top Hispanic events, each watched by more than 100 million viewers. Her Hispanic television credits include, 'Fuera de Serie' ('Out of this World') on Univisi�n and her own top-rated weekly show, 'A que no te atreves' ('I Dare You').

Chicago currently stars Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Charlotte d'Amboise (Roxie Hart), *Tom Hewitt (Billy Flynn), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Raymond Bokhour (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).
*Tom Wopat assumes the role of Billy Flynn from 23 Mar

Now celebrating twelve 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 currently booking through to 6 Sep 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 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.