Chicago, the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history, has announced the casting for its upcoming National Tour.
Chicago currently stars Mollie Downes as Roxie Hart, Logan Floyd as Velma Kelly, Sam Hartley as Billy Flynn, Brian Kalinowski as Amos Hart, Nakiya Peterkin as Matron “Mama” Morton and J. Workman as Mary Sunshine. Ensemble includes Alexia Acebo, Michelle Attardo, Aubree Brown, Megan Campbell, Jason Carroll, Adam Flagella, Kelly Gleason, John Guaragna, Nick Gurinsky, Lyman Heung, Kristo Ruffennach, Andrew Natale Ruggieri, Sarah Sigman, Alex Smith, John Tupy and Elizabeth Yanick.
Chicago has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.
Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
The National Tour of Chicago is directed by Tânia Nardini and choreographed by Gary Chryst. Walter Bobbie is the director of the original New York Production and Ann Reinking was the original choreographer in the style of Bob Fosse. Chicago features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer. The production also features orchestrations by Ralph Burns, supervising music direction by Robert Billig.
Chicago is a production not to be missed. And all the reviewers agree. Time Magazine calls it “A Triumph,” Newsweek raves “Smashing” and Entertainment Weekly sums it up by calling Chicago “Broadway’s Most Electrifying Show.”
The National tour of Chicago previewed in Yakima, WA at The Capitol Theatre before premiering in Spokane, WA at INB Performing Arts Center on February 29th, 2020. Visit www.ChicagoOnTour.com for more information.
CAST BIOS
ALEXIA ACEBO (Annie) is elated to be in her very first musical! Tampa, FL native and University of Alabama grad. Alexia gives all glory to God, love to her incredible family, and gratitude to every teacher, mentor and friend that made this possible! Special thanks: MSA and Stewart/Whitley. www.alexiaacebo.com @alexia___faith
MICHELLE ATTARDO (Swing, Dance Captain). BFA Dance, Marymount Manhattan College. Favorite credits: Christmas Wonderland (Tokyū Theatre Orb), Funny Girl, Singin’ in the Rain, Cabaret. Thanks to Stewart/Whitley, family and friends. @michelleattardo
AUBREE BROWN (Liz) is thrilled to be making her first musical debut with the cast of Chicago the Musical National Tour! Aubree, from Baltimore, MD, is a dancer/lifestyle model currently based in NYC. She would like to thank her family and friends for their unconditional love and support throughout her career! @_aubreebrown_
MEGAN CAMPBELL (Mona). Favorite credits: Happy Hour Prohibition (Mr. Mac), ¡Havana!, Swing!, Broadway Christmas Wonderland (Tokyū Theatre Orb), Legends in Concert, Da-Bangg Reloaded. Many thanks to LDC team, Stewart/Whitley, and family! http://www.meganelizabethcampbell.com
@megzycampbell
JASON CARROLL (The Bailiff, Court Clerk) is thrilled to be joining this fiercely talented cast. Past credits include the international tour of The Wizard of Oz, Vegas! The Show (Norwegian Cruise Line), Legally Blonde and more. Many thanks to Gregg, Kim, my Sunday family, and my ever supportive parents and sister. @Jason_CarrollNYC
MOLLIE DOWNES (Roxie Hart). NYC native and LaGuardia H.S. of Performing Arts alumni. Regional: Damn Yankees (Lola), Pippin (Fastrada). International Tour: Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndham). Off- Broadway: Spoolie Girl. Love to family, Lucius, Firestarter, and the Oslo crew. http://www.molliedownes.com @mollierosedownes
ADAM FLAGELLA (Swing, Dance Captain). National tour debut! Regional: North Shore Music Theatre. Point Park University. Love and gratitude to my family, friends, ImpactMTA, Stewart/Whitley and LINK. @adamflagella
LOGAN FLOYD (Velma Kelly). Credits: Cabaret (Sally Bowles), A Chorus Line (Sheila). She would like to thank her parents, family, friends, MT’19 and TXST. She’s grateful to The Mine, Stewart/Whitley, and creative team. Special thanks to the cast… “I just can’t do it alone!” http://www.logan-floyd.com
@logsss_floyd
KELLY GLEASON (Hunyak). Kelly is thrilled to be joining the cast of Chicago! National Tour: 42nd Street. Favorite regional: Holiday Inn (Paper Mill Playhouse), 42nd Street (NSMT), Singin’ in the Rain– Girl in Green, Asst. Choreographer (Theatre by the Sea). Pace U. Thanks to Mom, Dad, MTA, and the Chicago team!
JOHN GUARAGNA (Aaron). National Tour Debut! BFA in Musical Theatre from Cap21/Molloy College. Theatre credits: Mamma Mia (Sky), A Chorus Line (Greg), On The Town (Gabey), Saturday Night Fever (Tony Manero). Thanks to everyone who has believed in me! Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Lisamarie & Jillian. @john_guaragna
NICK GURINSKY (Harry, The Judge). Inter/National Tour: The Wizard of Oz (Tinman). NYC: Head Over Heels (Ensemble). Regional: Anything Goes (Sailor), Mamma Mia! (Eddie), White Christmas (Phil). Norwegian Cruise Lines (RSS Explorer). Love and gratitude to the Chicago team, Stewart/Whitley, friends, family and his incredibly supportive parents. @nickgurinsky
SAM HARTLEY (Billy Flynn). National Tour: Elf (Buddy), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Beast). Off-Broadway: The Lightning Thief (2017 Lucille Lortel Theater). Recent: Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), Ragtime (Stanford White, Ogunquit Playhouse), Young Frankenstein (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf). Special thanks to the Chicago team, Stewart/Whitley, and GBM. @samfred88
LYMAN HEUNG (The Doctor). Thrilled to make his national tour debut. International credits: Footloose (Ren), Wild Swans (Young Vic), A Chorus Line, The Wiz. Looking forward to working on more Tony Award winning musicals! @lyman.heung
BRIAN KALINOWSKI (Amos Hart). From Wilmington, DE; graduate of DeSales University with a BA in Theatre: Acting/Directing; 16 year resident of NYC. Edna in Hairspray on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Regional: Joey in Sister Act, Amos in Chicago. Member of the singing wait staff at NYC’s “Don’t Tell Mama” Piano Bar! IG: @bkonbway
NAKIYA PETERKIN (Matron “Mama” Morton). Nakiya is thrilled to be making her national tour debut! Credits: The Color Purple (Sofia), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman) and Rent (Joanne Jefferson). She would like to thank her family, friends, Stewart/Whitley, and her agents at Firestarter whom support her. Much love! @nakiyapeterkin
KRISTO RUFFENNACH (Fred Casely). National Tour Debut! Previous: Grease (Sonny, Palace Theater). Gratitude to Danny Prather at Hudson Artists and Stewart/Whitley. So much love to my Brianna and my family. @kristobryson
ANDREW NATALE RUGGIERI (Martin Harrison) is so excited to be a part of Chicago. National Tour: A Chorus Line (Mike); Regional: An American in Paris (Jerry), Ghost (Sam), Miss Saigon, (Chris), The Boy from Oz (Peter Allen), South Pacific (Ensemble). Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, and family for their constant love and support.
SARAH SIGMAN (June). So excited to be making her national tour debut! Regional: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, A Chorus Line, All Shook Up; Dance Lab NY; Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre; Kenyettà Dance Co. Big thanks to Stewart/Whitley and the creative team. All my love to Mom, Dad, Tyler, and family/friends!
@sarahsigman_
ALEX SMITH (Sergeant Fogarty, The Jury) is so excited to join Chicago! Regional: Sweet Charity (Marriott Theatre). Education: Northwestern University; Interlochen. Thank you Stewart/Whitley, Chicago team, friends, teachers and family.
JOHN TUPY (Swing, Dance Captain). National tour debut! Regional: Newsies, Singin’ in the Rain (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), A Chorus Line (Roxy Regional Theatre). BFA: University of Oklahoma. @johntupy
J. WORKMAN (Mary Sunshine). National tour debut! BFA Musical Theater, The Hartt School. Most recently: The Flamingo Kid (Hartford Stage). Huge thanks to The Roster Agency, Stewart/Whitley. So grateful!
ELIZABETH YANICK (Go-to-Hell Kitty). Thrilled to be making her national tour debut! Regional: Crazy For You, Mary Poppins, Grease, Footloose. Proud IU Alumna. Love to my family, friends, Stewart/Whitley, and the LDC team!
@elizabeth_yanick
