Dates Set for CHICAGO Tour; Bastian, Booth, Dorgu to Star

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David Ian in Association with Barry and Fran Weissler Presents the UK National Tour of Chicago opening at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre on Friday, Feburary 10, 2012.

The tour will star Ali Bastian (Roxie Hart), Stefan Booth (Billy Flynn), Tupele Dorgu (Velma Kelly) and Bernie Nolan (Mama Morton).

“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts”… so begins the international award-winning musical CHICAGO, which begins a national tour at Bradford Alhambra Theatre on Friday 10 February 2012 starring Ali Bastian as Roxie Hart, Stefan Booth as Billy Flynn, Tupele Dorgu as Velma Kelly and BErnie Nolan as Mama Morton. Full tour schedule attached.

Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s, nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with Cell Block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, they fight to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO’s sexy, sassy score includes All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle. With 6 Tony, 2 Olivier, 1 Grammy, 2 Bafta and 6 Academy Awards, CHICAGO truly is “The sharpest, slickest show on the block” The Times. A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin: it would be a crime to miss it.

Ali Bastian has been a regular fixture on British TV screens for over nine years, having played the long-running roles of Becca in Hollyoaks and Sally Armstrong in The Bill. More recently, Ali took part in the 2009 series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing where she reached the semi-finals. Theatre credits include Helen in the UK Tour of Verdict, Burn the Floor at the Shaftesbury Theatre and the UK Tour of Strictly Live 2010. Stefan Booth was recently seen playing Tanya’s husband Greg Jessop in EastEnders. He is also well known for playing the regular roles of Sergeant Marc Rollins in The Bill and Jamie Nash in Hollyoaks. Other TV credits include William & Mary, Doctors and The Silence, as well as reaching the finals of the first series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice. Tupele Dorgu is best known as Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street, a role she played for six years.

Other television credits include The Case, The Accused, Waterloo Road, Casualty and the regular role of Natalie Vance in Merseybeat. Theatre credits include Mamma Mia! in the West End. BErnie Nolan was the lead singer with The Nolans from 1974 until 1994 and with her sisters has enjoyed phenomenal success both in this country and abroad. On stage Bernie has toured the UK many times, most recently as Cora in Calendar Girls, Hannah Owens in Flashdance, Robin in Mum’s The Word and Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers. Television

credits include Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy in The Bill, Diane Murray in Brookside and most recently the first series of ITV’s Popstar to Opera Star where she was a finalist.

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. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher.