Get set for a killer musical!
SMASH HIT ... the cast of the musical Chicago.
CHICAGO has become one of the most successful musicals of all time.
It first opened on Broadway in 1975 and ran for 936 performances. Its 1996 revival holds the record for the longest-running musical revival on Broadway and is its fourth longest-running show, surpassed only by The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Misérables.
And next month, the smash hit is coming to the Sunderland Empire for a week-long leg of its UK tour.
Bernie Nolan is taking on the role of prison matron Mama Morton.
The star found fame as the lead singer of The Nolans, a group formed with her sisters, and has since appeared in many hit shows.
She said: “I feel so fortunate to be in this show, it’s one of my favourite shows of all time, so to be in it is a great feeling.
“I absolutely love this show. The music is brilliant, the script is fantastic and there’s some amazing dancing – it has everything.
“I’m really looking forward to coming up to the North East, it’s where I was raised and I have a lot of friends in Newcastle who I usually stay with if I’m in the area.
“Audiences up there are always really up for it and you know you’re always going to have a good night.
“Audiences down south are a lot more reserved whereas in the North East, everyone goes out because they want to let loose and have a good time.
“I think the hardest thing about going on tour is going to be missing my daughter. She’s 12 now so she gets it – she wants to be an actress herself.
“But I’ve spent a lot of time at home lately so being away from her is going to be hard.”
The show, set in 1920s Chicago, tells the story of chorus girl Roxie Hart, who dreams of becoming a big-time cabaret singer, just like Velma Kelly.
But when she murders her lover, and Velma murders her husband and sister after finding them in bed together, they both find themselves in the women’s block of Cook County Jail.
The pair find themselves battling it out for the affections of the public, the limelight, and the attention of lawyer Billy Flynn.
The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the ‘celebrity criminal’.
It was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 2002, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C Reilly and Queen Latifah.
Filling the glittering shoes of Roxie is Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian.
It will be the first appearance in a musical for the star, best known for her role as Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap opera.
She said: “It’s so much fun playing Roxie – there’s so many levels to her. She’s feisty, head-strong, she thinks on her feet, and she’s fun and girly too.
“Getting a part in a musical came a little out of the blue and I’ve never done it before, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do so it’s a dream come true.
“There’s a brilliant cast and it’s an amazing show. Everyone has been so great to work with and so supportive.
“I’m loving playing this role and nothing beats having a live audience. It’s really different being on stage to being on television. They’re both equally enjoyable but this really is a dream come true.”
The show also stars Coronation Street’s Tupele Dorgu. The actress walked the cobbles for six years as Kelly Crabtree, but now she’s set to tread the boards as the vivacious Velma Kelly.
And taking on the role of slick, smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn is EastEnders and Hollyoaks actor Stefan Booth.
Chicago is at the Sunderland Empire from March 26 to 31. Tickets cost from £13.50 to £35.
Call 0844 871 3022 or go to www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland.
n We’ve got three pairs of tickets to give away for opening night on Monday, March 26.
To be in with a chance of winning, just tell us the name of Bernie Nolan’s character.
Send your answers to Vicki Newman, Chicago, Shields Gazette, Chapter Row, South Shields, NE33 1BL.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazVicki
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