Photos: Shields Reveals Vocal Regime for Chicago

American screen and stage actress Brooke Shields (pictured) flew into London to meet the press today ahead of taking over as murderess Roxie Hart in Chicago at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre (See News, 6 Apr 2005), where she’ll play a limited season from 26 April to 25 June 2005 (not including 3 to 13 May).

Having already performed in the New York productions of Grease, Cabaret and Wonderful Town, Shields today described making her West End debut as even more thrilling than the “dream come true” of performing on Broadway.

“For us (American actors) to come over here and be welcomed, it is such an honour. When I think of what epitomises theatre, I do think of London, I do think of the West End.” As for the choice of the Kander and Ebb musical in particular, she said, “If you’re given the chance to do something like Chicago, you can’t in your right mind turn it down.”

Like Scottish screen star Ewan McGregor at yesterday’s press conference for Guys and Dolls (See News, 13 Apr 2005), in which he’ll make his musical stage debut in June, Shields spoke extensively about her preparations for the rigours of performing eight shows a week. “The voice is the most difficult part of the whole thing,” she said. “The one thing you can't do ill is sing.”

During her Broadway runs for both Grease and Cabaret, Shields lost her voice so, prior to her last six-month stage stint in Wonderful Town, she became “paranoid” about looking after her voice. In addition to extensive private tuition with a singing coach, her regime included using special warm-up tapes, steaming, gargling, flushing her nasal passages with a saline solution and not speaking during the day before an evening performance.

Having just completed Wonderful Town, Shields feels in peak condition to now take on Chicago. “I’m physically ready for it as far as stamina is concerned,” she said. And she’s got to be first thing. Because of the limited availability of the show’s director and her own outside work commitments, she has just nine days to learn the role of Roxie Hart – a rehearsal period that she views as “borderline criminal”.

Prior to Broadway, Shields became internationally famous for her screen roles, as a teenager in the 1970s and 80s, in the likes of Pretty Baby, Endless Love, King of the Gypsies and The Blue Lagoon. More recently, a guest appearance on Friends led to her own TV sitcom, Suddenly Susan.

Chicago, based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. The production is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.

The musical opened at the West End's Adelphi Theatre in November 1997 and went on to win the 1998 Olivier for Outstanding Musical Production and the 1998 Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Chicago is currently booking until 3 December 2005. From 6 June 2005, top-price tickets will rise to £45 (currently £42.50), with the lowest price set at £17.50 (currently £15).

- by Terri Paddock

MORE PHOTOS FROM TODAY'S PRESS RECEPTION:

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