Brenda Edwards to play Mama Morton in tour of Chicago the Musical

Brenda Edwards will re-join the cast of  the tour of Chicago the Musical from next week, appearing as Mama Morton at Sunderland Empire (2 to 4 June), Cardiff New Theatre (20 to 25 June), Winter Gardens Blackpool (28 June to 2 July), Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (5 to 9 July), Norwich Theatre Royal (11 to 16 July) and New Theatre Oxford (18 to 23 July).

Earlier this week it was revealed that Gemma Collins who was due to play he role had withdrawn from  the tour with a knee injury

Lee Mead will appear as Billy Flynn, Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart, Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly, Jamie Baughan as Amos Hart and B E Wong as Mary Sunshine.

The cast is completed by Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde.

Russell Watson to play Billy Flynn on tour of CHICAGO

David Ian in association with Barry and Fran Weissler are delighted to announce that multi-award-winning UK classical singer and stage star Russell Watson is to  take over the role of ‘Billy Flynn’ from Darren Day in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour  CHICAGO. He  joins the previously announced Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’ and Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’ at Liverpool Empire on Monday 7 February 2022.

The cast will also include Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde.

 Russell Watson is regarded as one of the world’s greatest classical singers, having released ten critically acclaimed studio albums. His debut album, ‘The Voice’ held the number one chart position in the UK for a record-breaking 52 weeks. Throughout his extensive career Watson has collaborated with Meatloaf, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Alexandra Burke, and Luciano Pavarotti. He recently appeared as a contestant on the twentieth series, and castle edition, of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! His stage credits include Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds on tour and Karl Oscar in the English world premiere of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ Kristina at Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.

 

Mica Paris to play Mama Morton on Tour of Chicago

David Ian, producer of the international award-winning musical CHICAGO is delighted to announce that platinum selling singer, Mica Paris, will star as ‘Mama Morton’ in the tour of Chicago  when the show plays Sunderland Empire from 28 November to 3 December 2016 and Birmingham Alexandra Theatre for the Christmas season, from 12 December to 31 December 2016.
 

Also starring in CHICAGO are John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine with Daniele Arbisi, Nicola Coates, Frances Dee, Adam Denman, Francis Foreman, Waylon Jacobs, Justin-Lee Jones, Dann Kharsa, Chelsea Labadini, Ellie Mitchell, Peter Nash, Helen Siveter, Kerry Spark, Lindsey Tierney and Emily Warner. 

 Mica Paris is one of the UK’s most respected female singers with a career of Top 10 hit singles and albums worldwide. The range, power and beauty of Mica Paris' singing made an immediate impact on the UK music scene in 1988 when she released her debut, platinum-selling album, 'So Good’ from which she had her first top ten hit, 'My One Temptation'. More worldwide hit albums and singles followed including 'Black Angel', 'Stay' and 'Carefree’.Mica has collaborated with, and been a special guest for many respected artists including Prince, Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Paul Rodgers, David Gilmour and Jools Holland. Her musical  theatre credits include appearing in the West End productions of ‘Mama I Want To Sing’, ‘The Vagina Monologues’ and ‘Sweet Lorraine’ as well as a sell-out residency at Ronnie Scott's Club. Mica was most recently seen in the UK and Ireland tour of ‘Love Me Tender.’

Full cast announced for tour of Chicago

Full casting has just been announced for the new tour of the award-winning musical CHICAGO, which opens at the New Theatre Oxford on Friday 12 February. Joining the previously announced John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and Sam Bailey as Mama Morton will be Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine

Sophie Carmen-Jones’ many West End credits including Jersey Boys, Wicked and We Will Rock You. She will also appear in the forthcoming Disney film Beauty and the Beast. Neil Ditt has appeared in many West End productions including Mary Poppins and Betty Blue Eyes. His other theatre credits include creating the role of George Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at Leicester Curve and High Society and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, both at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. A.D. Richardson’s  theatre credits include the International tour of The Pirates of Penzance, the UK tour of HMS Pinafore, the RSC’s Cyrano De Bergerac and Scrooge The Musical at the New Theatre Oxford

The rest of the company includes Daniele Arbisi,  Nicola Coates, Frances Dee, Adam Denman, Francis Foreman, Waylon Jacobs, Justin-Lee Jones, Dann Kharsa, Chelsea Labadini, Ellie Mitchell, Peter Nash, Helen Siveter, Kerry Spark, Lindsey Tierney and Emily Warner.

Chicago’s Ali Bastian, Bernie Nolan, Stefan Booth and Tupele Dorgu on ITV’s This Morning

The new tour of Chicago is due to start at the Bradford Alhambra on 10th February and the stars of the show are appearing on ITV1’s This Morning today which is on from 10:30-12:30.

Ali Bastian (Hollyoaks, The Bill, Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor) is Roxie Hart, Stefan Booth (EastEnders) is Billy Flynn, Tupele Dorgu (Coronation Street) is Velma Kelly and Bernie Nolan is Matron ‘Mama’ Morton talk about appearing in the stage hit Chicago together

Cast for tour of Chicago

The tour of Chicago kicks off at the Bradford Alhambra next February and will star Ali Bastian (Hollyoaks, The Bill, Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor) as Roxie Hart, Stefan Booth (EastEnders) as Billy Flynn, Tupele Dorgu (Coronation Street) as Velma Kelly and Bernie Nolan as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.

More tour dates and casting to follow.

Chicago the Musical to tour next year

Chicago the musical closes at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End on 27th August, but it is going on tour next year.

The first two dates I have are for next March at the Palace Theatre Manchester (19th-24th) and Sunderland Empire (26th-31st).

More details and dates to follow shortly.