This production of Chicago, directed by Walter Bobbie, began its run at the Adelphi Theatre on October 27, 1997 and opened there on November 18, 1997. This fall it became the longest-running production in Adelphi history. The Adelphi has a capacity of 1486 seats, which is approximately 200 more than the Cambridge. Chicago currently stars Sally Ann Triplett as Roxie Hart, Vanessa Leagh-Hicks as Velma Kelly, Darius Danesh as Billy Flynn, Victor McGuire as Amos Hart and Chrissie Hammond as Mama Morton. Linzi Hateley and Debbie Kurup will step into the roles of Roxie and Velma, respectively, on January 30.
While this is the first move for the London Chicago, the Broadway production has switched theaters twice. After beginning life as part of City Center's popular Encores! series in May 1996, it first opened on Broadway on November 14, 1996 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The revival remained at that theater through February 9, 1997, and then headed to the more spacious Shubert Theatre, where it began performances three days later. It played its final performance at the Shubert Theatre on January 26, 2003 and started at its current home, the Ambassador Theatre, on January 29, 2003.
The Cambridge's current tenant, Dancing in the Streets, will now close on April 22, which is the end of its current booking period.