Russell Watson is joining the UK tour of the Kander and Ebb musical Chicago, making his first appearance as charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn at the Liverpool Empire on February 7, 2022.
Regarded as one of the best popular classical singers, Watson has collaborated with Meatloaf, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Alexandra Burke and Luciano Pavarotti on various projects. He was also a contestant on the 20th series (castle edition), of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
For this UK and Ireland tour he joins Faye Brookes (as Roxie Hart) and Djalenga Scott (as Velma Kelly).
Most recently, Brookes reached the final of this year’s series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice but is best known as Kate Connor in Coronation Street, for which she won a National Television Award. Her theatre credits include Princess Fiona in Shrek, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Liesl in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Frenchy in Grease at the Piccadilly.
Scott’s West End credits include Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Chicago.
Set in the decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Show-stopping songs include Razzle Dazzle, Cell Block Tango, and All That Jazz.
The 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, it has played in 36 countries in 12 languages, been seen by an estimated 33 million people, grossed over $1.7 billion and played over 32,500 performances.
The UK tour dates include Liverpool Empire (February 7-12); Leeds Grand (May 10-14); Manchester Opera House (May 23-28); Sheffield Lyceum (July 5-9) and Venue Cymru (July 25-30).