Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Alinta Chidzey & Casey Donovan To Star In Chicago

Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Alinta Chidzey & Casey Donovan To Star In Chicago

The 2019 production of the multi-award winning, record breaking musical CHICAGOproduced in Australia by John Frost and Suzanne Jones, will premiere from August 20 at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.

The sassy musical will star some of Australia’s most talented performers. Starring as the irreverent and determined Roxie Hart, is Natalie Bassingthwaighte and joining her as the empowered and glamorous Velma Kelly is Alinta Chidzey. Casey Donovan joins the duo as the tough and sassy prison warden Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.

“We are so thrilled to have this incredible Australian cast join us in bringing this New York institution back to Australia. CHICAGO has everything that people love about Broadway, a story of fame, fortune and all that jazz, one show-stopping number after another and the most amazing dancing you’ve ever seen as well as the most sizzling score” said producer John Frost.

Producer Suzanne Jones added, “We cannot wait to see Natalie, Alinta and Casey make these iconic roles their own whilst supported by a slick ensemble cast. We are so privileged to have the most exceptional performers joining us on this production who are sure to bring the razzle dazzle!”

The Kander & Ebb musical has been seen by over 31 million people worldwide in 36 countries and is the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy Award. Chicago continues to play on Broadway and around the world in multiple languages and is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte joins the cast as Roxie Hart having developed a career as an actor, musician and TV presenter. The multiple Logie Award nominee has acting credits in film and on television including her run on Neighbours as Izzy Hoyland. Natalie was the host of So You Think You Can Dance and a judge on The X Factor in both Australia and New Zealand. She was the front woman for Australian pop dance group The Rogue Traders before she also released her solo album which debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA charts. She turns full circle returning to the stage after commencing her career in musical theatre productions such asRentGrease and Footloose

Joining Natalie as Broadway’s most infamous femme fatales is Alinta Chidzey in the role of Velma KellyAlinta has forged a most successful career in entertainment from her acting credits in WentworthNeighbours and Winners and Losers to her album releases as a Jazz vocalist and songwriter. She has performed as Anita in West Side Story, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Kathy Selden in Singin’ In the Rain, Magnolia in Show Boat and joined Hugh Jackman on stage in his Broadway to Oz tour.

Playing Matron ‘Mama’ Morton is powerhouse vocalist Casey DonovanShe is best known to Australian audiences after winning Australian Idol as a 16 year old in 2004.  She continues to release music after her ARIA Number 1 debut album and tours extensively playing live around Australia. She won the title on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2017 whilst also nurturing a stage career which has seen her cast in musical theatre productions including The Flower ChildrenThe SapphiresRent and We Will Rock You.

Starring alongside this cast is Rodney Dobson playing Roxie’s charming and vulnerable husband Amos Hart and J. Furtado as gossip hound Mary Sunshine. The ensemble cast includes Amy Berrisford, Andrew Cook, Todd Dewberry, Samantha Dodemaide, Ben Gillespie, Chaska Halliday, Travis Khan, Hayley Martin, Kristina McNamara, Joe Meldrum, Tom New, Jessica Vellucci, Romina Villafranca, Rachael Ward, Zachary Webster and Mitchell Woodcock. Further cast will be announced soon.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer Billy Flynn to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today's tabloids.

Chicago, which is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  The 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO is choreographed by Tony Award winning Ann Reinking in the style ofBob Fosse and is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie. CHICAGO features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY MARCH 11TH

CHICAGOTHEMUSICAL.COM.AU

SYDNEY SEASON DETAILS

Venue: Capitol Theatre 

Season:  From 20 August 2019

Performance Times: Midweek Matinees, Weekend matinees and Tuesday – Sunday Evenings 

Price: From $59.90*

Bookings: www.chicagothemusical.com.au

* An additional transaction fee may apply

Photographer: Peter Brew Bevan

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