Chicago gets a not-so ugly Roxie with America Ferrera

America Ferrera, who charmed the world with her bad fashion sense as Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty, is to make her West End debut in the musical Chicago.
Swapping braces, thick glasses and the hideous ponchos that dominated her career for the past four years in the hit sitcom, America will don the iconic lace black number to play the lead role of Roxie Hart for eight weeks from November 7th.
The actress will also be performing as the show celebrates its 15th year in London on November 18th. Her opening night will also be the show’s first night in its new home at the Garrick Theatre.
It has been closed since August 17th after leaving the Cambridge Theatre, where it played to over two million people and became the longest-running American revival ever, beating A Chorus Line.
On its return to the stage in 1997, Chicago won a string of awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production and the Critics Circle Drama Award for Best Musical.
America, who has won an Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal as Betty, will be making a definite shift of direction in her new role.
She will play a publicity-seeking murderess, who enlists the help of lawyer Billy Flynn to stop her from heading to the gallows. Along the way, she will dance the Bob Fosse jazz moves that make the show so memorable and belt out songs including Roxie and Funny Honey.
Also new to the Garrick will be Amra-Faye Wright in the role of Velma Kelly. She is currently starring in the same role on Broadway.
Roxie is a highly sought-after role among female actresses. Denise Van Outen, Brooke Shields, Ashlee Simpson, Christine Brinkley and Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams have all played the role since the 1997 London revival.