Initial casting announced for national tour of Chicago

Casting has been announced for the national tour of Chicago which opens at the New Theatre, Oxford in February 2016.

EastEnders star John Partridge will take the role of Billy Flynn alongside Coronation Street actress Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and X Factor winner – and real life ex-prison warden – Sam Bailey as Mama Morton.

The award-winning musical is based on real life events from the 1920s and follows nightclub singer Roxie Hart, double-murderess Velma Kelly and smooth talking lawyer Billy Flynn as they fight to keep Hart off death row after she shoots her lover.

Chicago, which is 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 and includes well -known songs such as "All That Jazz", "Razzle Dazzle" and "Cell Block Tango".

The production first opened in London at the Adelphi Theatre in 1997 where it ran for 15 years and won an Olivier and Critics Circle' Award. It is currently playing in New York where it holds the record as the longest running musical revival and the second longest running musical in Broadway history.

Full casting is yet to be announced.

Chicago will open on 12 February at the New Theatre, Oxford before touring to Wimbledon, Dartford, Southampton, Milton Keynes, Manchester, Bradford, Eastbourne, Torquay, Truro, Dublin, Northampton, Crawley, Edinburgh, Wolverhampton, Southend and Bristol.

For further information or to buy tickets, click here.