July 15, 2009

Hart to Hart: a lineup of Roxies in the musical Chicago

London's long-running production of Chicago has a bootylicious new star. See who else has played the fabulous femme fatale Roxie Hart

Michelle Williams as Roxie Hart in Chicago — The West End revival of Chicago is currently celebrating its 12th year Photograph: Uli Weber

Michelle Williams as Roxie Hart in Chicago — Former Destiny's Child star Michelle Williams, who was recently seen on Broadway in The Color Purple, plays the scheming, murderous chorus girl Roxie Hart in the current West End revival of Chicago Photograph: Uli Weber

Gwen Verdon, who played Roxie Hart in Chicago in 1975, gives advice to dancers in 1999 — Gwen Verdon, seen here in 1999, played Roxie in the original 1975 production on Broadway Photograph: Sean Smith

Ruthie Henshall — Ruthie Henshall, seen here in Marguerite at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2008, was the first star to play Roxie Hart in the West End revival of Chicago in 1997 Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Maria Friedman had two stints as Roxie Hart in Chicago in the late 1990s — Maria Friedman had two stints as Roxie in the West End in the late 1990s Photograph: Frank Baron

Chicago star Denise Van Outen — After leaving The Big Breakfast, Denise Van Outen was one of the highest-profile Roxies at the Adelphi theatre on the Strand. She first appeared in the role in 2001 Photograph: Peter Jordan/PA

A billboard promotes Denise Van Outen's Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago — Van Outen made her Broadway debut in the same role Photograph: PA/Empics

Claire Sweeney as Roxie Hart in Chicago — Claire Sweeney does Roxie at the Adelphi in 2001 Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Jill Halfpenny as Roxie Hart in Chicago — Another soap star, Jill Halfpenny from EastEnders, took the role of Roxie in the West End in 2005 Photograph: Uli Weber

Ashlee Simpson as Roxie Hart in Chicago, at the Cambridge theatre in 2006 — Chicago moved from the Adelphi to the Cambridge theatre in 2006. Recent Roxies have included pop star Ashlee Simpson Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty Images

Aoife Mulholland as Roxie in Chicago — Aoife Mulholland, a finalist from the BBC reality TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, also landed the role of Roxie in 2006 Photograph: Hugo Glendinning/PA

Brooke Shields as Roxie Hart in Chicago — Brooke Shields is among the stars who have played the role both on Broadway and in the West End Photograph: Len Prince/PA

Chicago star Bebe Neuwirth — Bebe Neuwirth, best known as Lillith in Cheers, was awarded a Tony for her performance as Velma Kelly in the 1997 production of Chicago. She then played the role of Roxie on Broadway in 2006 Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP

Melanie Griffith as Roxie Hart in Chicago — Melanie Griffith as Roxie Hart in a 10th anniversary Broadway performance of Chicago at the Ambassador theatre, New York Photograph: Sara Jaye/Rex Features

Chicago's Renee Zellweger — Renee Zellweger won an Oscar for her breathy portrayal of Roxie in the 2002 movie of Chicago Photograph: Michael Crabtree/PA

Michelle Williams is starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Cambridge theatre — Michelle Williams plays Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Cambridge theatre until 22 August Photograph: Sylvia Linares/FilmMagic.com

Leave a Comment Cancel comment