Bebe Neuwirth to Spend Winter 2007 on Broadway as Roxie in Chicago

The Weisslers have done it again: The masters of celebrity casting have coaxed Bebe Neuwirth—who won a 1997 Best Actress Tony Award as Velma Kelly in Chicago—into returning to the show, this time as Velma's rival, Roxie Hart. Neuwirth will appear on Broadway as Roxie beginning on New Year's Eve and running through March 25, 2007.

Neuwirth has enjoyed multiple stints as Velma in Chicago during the revival's Broadway run and will play the role alongside Ann Reinking as Roxie in the gala 10th anniversary performance on November 14, a benefit for Safe Horizon. She will be the first performer in the Broadway company to play both Velma and Roxie.

In addition to her long stint as Dr. Lilith Sternin-Crane on TV's Cheers and Frasier, Neuwirth played assistant district attorney Tracey Kibre in the spinoff series Law & Order: Trial By Jury. Recent off-Broadway credits include Here Lies Jenny, Writer's Block and The Exonerated.

Chicago currently stars Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly and Usher as Billy Flynn. Beginning September 11, Rob Bartlett will play Amos Hart and Roz Ryan will play Matron Mama Morton.