Japanese Star Ryoko Yonekura Set For Broadway Debut in Chicago as Roxie Hart

Japanese superstar Ryoko Yonekura is set to make her Broadway debut as merry murderess Roxie Hart in Chicago for a limited engagement, July 10 through July 15, at the Ambassador Theatre. Yonekuru takes over the role from Tracy Shayne, who will play her final performance on July 8.



Set in the 1920s, Chicago follows Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover. Deseperate to avoid conviction, she hires Chicago's slickest criminal lawyer much to the dismay of her rival cellmate Velma Kelly. Directed by Walter Bobbie, the Tony-winning revival is now in its 16th year.

Yonekura originated the role of Roxie Hart in the Japanese-language production of Chicago in 2008 and again in 2010. Her other stage credits include Scarlett O'Hara in the Japanese stage adaptation of Gone With the Wind and Motoko Haraguchi in Kurokawa no Techo. Yonekura's films and television credits include Reiko Usagi in The Negotiator and Arisa Matsui (Samantha) in the Japanese version of Bewitched.


The Tony-winning revival currently stars Tony Yazbeck as Billy Flynn, Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly, Roz Ryan as Matron “Mama” Morton and Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart. Carol Woods returns as Matron "Mama" Morton beginning June 4.