Paul Rider will join the previously announced Cuba Gooding Jr, Sarah Soetaert, Josefina Gabrielle and Ruthie Henshall in the multi award-winning Chicago at London’s Phoenix Theatre.
Following a successful UK and international tour, and after a five and a half year absence from London, Chicago, the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, will open on 11 April 2018, following previews from 26 March.
Paul Rider previously played Amos in Chicago at the Adelphi and Cambridge Theatres. His recent theatre work includes A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville), The Tempest, Cymbeline, Measure for Measure, Julius Caesar, The Duchess of Malfi, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 and Henry V (Shakespeare’s Globe), and Wilbur in the UK tour of Hairspray.
The cast will also feature: Alan Richardson, Michelle Antrobus, Natalie Bennyworth, Nicola Coates, Frances Dee, Zoe Gappy, Emma Harris, Chelsea Labadini, Joanna Rennie, Abramo Ciullo, Francis Foreman, Luke Jarvis, Matt Krzan, Charles Ruhrmund, Todd Talbot, Callum Macdonald, Chris Warner Drake and Matthew Wesley.
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. The 1996 Broadway revival was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.
Chicago originally ran in London for 15 years, making it the West End’s longest-running revival. The show won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production, as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for Best Musical. The show continues to play on Broadway, where it recently celebrated its 21st birthday.
