Chicago: Tom Wopat assumes the role of Broadway's slick lawyer 'Billy Flynn'

Two-time Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat once again steps into the role of slick lawyer Billy Flynn this evening (29 Jul 2008) in the Broadway musical Chicago. This will be Wopat's fifth stint in the role, he first played the role in May 2004. Wopat assumes the role from Obba Babatund�, who played his final performance on 27 Jul 2008.

Wopat was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of 'Tom Hurley' in the musical 'A Catered Affair' which recently closed on Broadway. His other Broadway credits include: as James Lingk in 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (2005 revival), he made his Broadway debut as 'Wally' in 'I Love My Wife' (1977). His other Broadway credits are 'City of Angels' (1989), 'Guys and Dolls' (1992 revival), 'Annie Get Your Gun' (1999 revival) - for which he was nomiated for his first Tony and 42nd Street (2001). He is best known to the world as Luke Duke from the TV series 'The Dukes of Hazzard'.

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 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 Nancy Lemenager (Velma Kelly), Michelle DeJean (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.