“Chicago” stunt casting: 13 performers tapped to play Roxie Hart
“Chicago” the musical is always a revolving door for countless celebrity castings.
The Broadway staple premiered in 1975 and was revived in 1996. Still going strong after 26 years, the musical is the longest-running Broadway revival ever.
In the musical set during Prohibition-era 1920s Chicago, a promising but untalented chorus girl named Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, a star whose light has dimmed, are facing a murder trial for a man whom Roxie shot and was having affair an affair with. Both scandalous women compete for the services of a lawyer Billy Flynn, who promises to get them off and turn them into megastars.
The musical is based on a 1926 play of the same by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins. Ultimately the story of “Chicago” is a satire on corruption in the criminal justice system and the idea of the celebrity criminal. But most importantly, the musical earned six Tony Awards — one Tony for best revival of a musical in 1997, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy because of its killer score and ensemble cast. Rob Marshall also adapted the musical for his 2002 film starring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It went on to win six Oscars including a best picture win, making it the first musical win since “Oliver!”
Outside all the accolades, “Chicago” is mostly about Roxie’s life on the edge. It is a role that a plethora of celebrities are able to inhabit in short stints because it’s one that doesn’t necessarily require a performer know how to dance or sing well. This has opened the door to singers, actors and even reality stars to be the next to don the top hat and play the musical murderer.
Let’s take a look at some of the celebrities who’ve played Roxie on stage.
Melanie Griffith during Chicago the Musical Celebrates its 10th Anniversary on Broadway – Dress Rehearsal at Ambassador Theater in New York City, New York, United States. (James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images)Of her performance, The New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley wrote, “Ms. Griffith is a sensational Roxie, possibly the most convincing I have seen.” Some said that Griffith’s singing and dancing were the weaker points of her performance.
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz poses backstage while making her broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in “Chicago” on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on November 30, 2009 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images)“Pieces of Me” singer Ashlee Simpson played Roxie in 2006 for a five-week run from September to October. She was 21 when she took on the role in the West End in London. Her singing abilities made her a perfect candidate for the role but it was the first time the singer was on stage for a theatrical.
She also made her Broadway debut reprising her role as Roxie in New York City.
Sister Jessica Simpson said, “I think Ashlee made Roxie who she wanted to make Roxie [into]. It was her stage tonight. She was brighter than the lights. She was it. My girl!”
Actress Brooke Shields performs on stage for her first night playing Roxie Hart in the West End show “Chicago – The Muscial” at the Adelphi Theatre on April 28, 2005 in London, England. (Dave Benett/Getty Images)She was one of the first performers to have starred in “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and “Grease” on Broadway, three long-running revivals that are known for their stunt casting. Some critics called Shields too wholesome for the role of Roxie.
Jennifer Nettles behind the scenes of her photo shoot for her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart In “Chicago” on December 10, 2014 in New York City. (Jenny Anderson/Getty Images)She also had a No. 1 country album with her solo debut “That Girl.” But also as the lead singer of Sugarland, she garnered worldwide sales over $22 million.
The Chicago Tribune said Nettles was “chatty, charming and energetic, Nettles was an accessible presence throughout.”
Michelle Williams as Roxie Hart poses backstage at Chicago on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on February 8, 2010 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images)But she didn’t only play Roxie on Broadway, she went across the pond to London to play the character in the West End production of “Chicago” too. The multi-talented Williams was also in the Broadway production “Aida” and also joined the national touring company of the hit musical “The Color Purple.”
Olivia Holt as “Roxie Hart” during the curtain call as Olivia Holt makes her broadway debut in the hit musical “Chicago” on Broadway at The Ambassador Theatre on April 10, 2023 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)Holt is another actor-singer who grew up in the Disney pipeline, which requires performers to learn how to do both skillfully and gracefully. Her songs “Phoenix” and “History” have racked up millions of views on YouTube and streams on Spotify.
Angelica Ross during a photocall for her Broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in the hit musical “Chicago” at The CIVILIAN Hotel on August 24, 2022 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)
Pamela Anderson waves during the opening night curtain call of her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago” on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on April 12, 2022 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)Anderson has been enjoying a renewed time in the spotlight since the release of her memoir and Netflix documentary “Love, Pamela” in January 2023. In her documentary, we witness Anderson’s excitement over being asked to play Roxie and glimpses of the star rehearsing for the musical.
Brandy Norwood prepares for her Broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in “Chicago” with an ad photoshoot at Splashlight Studios on April 2, 2015 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)R&B superstar Brandy famously played Roxie Hart in June 2015.
The singer has sold more than 40 million worldwide including her poppy R&B hits “I Wanna Be Down” and “The Boy Is Mine.” Luckily for the singer, she’s also a well-established actress starring in the long-running sitcom “Moesha” and Disney’s beloved TV adaptation “Cinderella,” which co-stars Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg, in 1997.
“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast surprise Erika Jayne as “Roxie Hart” onstage at the hit musical “Chicago” on Broadway at The Ambassador Theatre on January 14, 2020 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/WireImage/Getty Images)
Rumer Willis as “Roxie Hart” behind the scenes at a photo shoot for her broadway debut in “Chicago” on Broadway at The Highline Studios on July 20, 2015 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images)The actress has singing chops (like her dad), but she also proved she could move as well, ending up winning the reality competition series “Dancing With the Stars” in 2015.
Lisa Rinna as “Roxie Hart” and Harry Hamlin as “Billy Flynn” in “Chicago” (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images)Unfortunately for Rinna, critics gave her performance negative reviews. The Oregonian said that she wrecked “Chicago.” The review went on to declare, “Every once in a while, it’s worth it to see a performance that completely recalibrates your sense of what’s bad.”
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