Alyssa Milano to Make Her Broadway Debut in the Razzle-Dazzle Musical 'Chicago' This Fall
Alyssa Milano is set to captivate audiences with her Broadway debut this fall in the musical "Chicago," a production known for critiquing celebrity culture. Milano will take on the role of Roxie Hart at the Ambassador Theatre starting September 16, in an engagement that runs through November 10, Associated Press reported.
The former "Who's the Boss?" and "Charmed" star views this return to theater as revisiting her roots. Having been in a national tour of "Annie" at just eight years old, Milano later starred in off-Broadway productions such as Wendy Wasserstein's "Tender Offer" and "All Night Long." She also produced and starred in a Los Angeles adaptation of "Butterflies Are Free" and appeared in the first American musical adaptation of "Jane Eyre."
Milano says, "The beauty of theater is that you get to try new things every night. That’s what I used to love and what I hope to find again in ‘Chicago.’" The timing feels perfect as her children, ages 9 and 12, are now settled, and her husband is at a good point in his career. "It just felt like when this offer came up that everything fell into place. My 9-year-old daughter said, ‘Mom, you would be an idiot not to do this.’"
Recently, Milano has appeared in films like "Brazen" and "Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later," as well as Netflix’s "Insatiable." She has also been an influential voice in the #MeToo movement, launched clothing, jewelry, and eyewear lines, and hosted Lifetime’s "Project Runway All-Stars."
Set in the 1920s, "Chicago" satirizes how show business and media create celebrities out of criminals, featuring Bob Fosse-inspired choreography and memorable songs like "All That Jazz" and "Cell Block Tango." The narrative centers around Roxie, a housewife and dancer who murders her lover to escape abandonment and enlists the help of a slick lawyer to manipulate the public, media, and her rival, Velma Kelly.
Milano aims to honor the legacy of Ann Reinking, the Fosse collaborator who originated the role of Roxie in 1996 and created the choreography in Fosse’s style. "I’m really trying to pay homage to her choreography and her portrayal of Roxie. Because she was profound."
The role of the celebrity-craving Roxie Hart has been played by many notable actresses since 1996, including Pam Anderson, Melanie Griffith, and Brooke Shields. Milano hopes her fans will come to see her multiple times, saying, "I guarantee you I’m going to keep finding things — keep finding little moments that will, hopefully, add to the legacy of all the women who came before me."
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