Pamela Anderson to make Broadway debut in Chicago
From Baywatch to Broadway
Canadian-American Actress Pamela Anderson, is set to make her Broadway debut in the New York production of Chicago.
She will be playing the role of Roxie Hart from 12th April to 5th June at the Ambassador Theatre in the production which has been running since 1996.
Pamela rose to global recognition in 1992 from her role as Casey Jean "C.J." Parker in the American action series Baywatch. Some of her other credits include Home Improvements, V.I.P and Superhero Movie.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Pamela said: “From ‘Baywatch’ to Broadway. I am inspired by the unexpected
“This is it, and I will not hold back anymore. I am letting go. I am ready to see what I’m capable of. For ‘Chicago,’ I’ll be putting all my cards on the table. I am doubling down — on me.”
Chicago's producer, Barry Weissler said: “Pam is a very moral person, extremely moral. She cares about animals. She cares about the planet. She cares about people,
“The difference between her as Pam and Roxie is Roxie doesn’t care about anyone but herself, and she doesn’t give a damn about the outside world as long as she can be famous. So Pam comes with totally opposite attributes in life, but she fits because of her celebrity, what she’s gone through in life.”
Chicago has music by John Kander and Fred Ebb with a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. The musical originally opened on Broadway in 1975 with Gwen Verdon and Chita Revera as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. The production received 11 Tony nominations but failed to win any.
A revival opened on Broadway in 1996 with Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth as Roxie and Velma, the production is still running today and holds the record for the second longest running Broadway show (behind The Phantom of the Opera) and the longest running revival. The production also won six Tony Awards and a Grammy.
Chicago is also on tour around the UK and Ireland.
Meet the UK and Ireland touring cast of Chicago:
Lee Mead as Billy Flynn
Lee Mead rose to fame after winning Any Dream Will Do, where he won the titular role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other theatre credits include Legally Blonde, Wicked and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Brenda Edwards as Mama Morton
Brenda rose to fame competing in the X Factor in 2005. She made her West End debut playing Mama Morton in Chicago and has since appeared in the UK tour of Hairspray, Carousel at the London Coliseum and both the West End and touring productions of We Will Rock You.
Brenda is also a panelist on ITV's Loose Women.
Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart
After her success on Dancing on Ice, Coronation Street's Faye Brookes is swapping her skates for her jazz shoes as she takes on the role of Roxie Hart. She's no stranger to musical theatre having starred in the national tours of Shrek the Musical and Legally Blonde as well as appearing as Liesl in The Sound of Music at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly
Djalenga's West End credits include Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Chicago. She has also appeared in West Side Story on a national tour, Grease at the Leicester Curve, and the European tours of The Rocky Horror Show and Fame.
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