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Usher |
Usher, the silky voiced R&B
superstar, will soon be crooning a Broadway melody.
The multi-platinum recording artist and five-time Grammy winner
will take over the role of conniving lawyer Billy Flynn in the
long-running musical revival ``Chicago," making his Broadway
debut, producers Barry and Fran Weissler announced Friday.
"I have always admired Broadway actors for their showmanship,
dedication and focus that goes into performing live on stage
every night," the 27-year-old Usher said in a statement. ``Being
on Broadway allows you to connect to audiences in a whole new
way that's different from music and movies."
Usher's last album, "Confessions," sold more than 8 million
copies in the United States and made its debut as number one on
Billboard's 200 Albums chart. Among his hit songs are
``Confessions," ``Burn," ``You Make Me Wanna" and ``Yeah!"
Usher opens August 22 in ``Chicago" and will appear through
October 1.
The R&B performer, who was born Usher Raymond in Chattanooga,
Tenn., and raised in Atlanta, was discovered when he was 13 at a
``Star Search" competition and was given a recording contract.
While ``Chicago" will mark his Broadway debut, he has acted in
TV shows and several films, including last year's ``In the Mix."
"Chicago," Broadway's longest running musical revival, has a
score by John Kander and Ebb and a book by Bob Fosse and Ebb.
The tale of Roxie Hart, a has-been chorus cutie who murders her
boyfriend and tries to ride the notoriety to show-biz fame and
fortune, originally was seen on Broadway in 1975.
The Weissler-produced show, winner of six Tony Awards, opened in
1996 and has been seen around the world.
Barry Weissler has developed the replacement strategy for his
long-running shows, including ``Grease" and ``Annie Get Your
Gun," into a fine art. In ``Chicago," its morally relaxed
heroine has been played by such diverse actresses as Brooke
Shields, Melanie Griffith, Sandy Duncan, Marilu Henner and Rita
Wilson.
Among the actors who have played Billy Flynn on Broadway are
Huey Lewis, Wayne Brady, Kevin Richardson, George Hamilton, Taye
Diggs, Alan Thicke and Billy Zane.
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