Preview - Chicago

Come on babe, why don't we paint the town - and All That Jazz

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO’s sexy, sassy score includes the show-stopping songs “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “All That Jazz”. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, CHICAGO is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history.

Since it opened in New York in 1996, CHICAGO has played in 36 countries worldwide and has been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Danish, Japanese and Korean. Worldwide it has been seen by an estimated 33 million people, grossed over $1.7 billion and played over 32,500 performances.

Now it heads out on a new UK tour and for the Sunderland Empire leg there is the added bonus of mega stars Lee Mead (the nation's favourite Joseph) as Billy Flynn, and Gemma Collins (the original OG) as Mama Morton.

Gemma Collins is best known as a media personality and businesswoman, having first featured in the reality series The Only Way Is Essex. She was awarded the 2021 winner of the Best Female Personality at the National Reality Television Awards. Before finding fame on The Only Way Is Essex, Gemma was a keen performer having studied dance and winning a place at the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School and is guaranteed to bring a whole new sass to the prison warden role.

Lee Mead won the nations hearts when they voted him their Joseph in BBC1’s Any Dream Will Do. Since then, Lee has gone on to star in the West End in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre, Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre and Wicked at the Victoria Apollo, as well as touring the UK as Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Lee has also appeared on screen establishing himself as a TV favourite on BBC1’s Casualty and Holby City in the role of Lofty.

Adding to this stellar headline cast we have Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart and Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly. Faye is best known for her role as Kate Connor in ITV’s Coronation Street, for which she won a National Television Award. Djalenga's credits include Anita in the national tour of West Side Story, Rizzo in Grease at Curve Leicester, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show and Carmen in Fame, both on European tours, the US tour of Batman Live and Bombalurina in Cats at Kilworth House.

Also joining Gemma and Lee are Jamie Baughan as ‘Amos Hart’ and B.E. Wong as ‘Mary Sunshine’. Packed with hit songs (All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, Mr Cellophane) and with stunning choreography in the style of Bob Fosse, Chicago continues to be a smash hit, sell out tour - get your tickets now from ttps://www.atgtickets.com/shows/chicago/sunderland-empire/

Playing from 31st may to 4th June