Mark Ballas returns to the Broadway revival of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre on July 20, reprising the role of Billy Flynn through August 16. The production also welcomes Eddie Cooper as Amos Hart on July 20, while Emmy winner Derek Hough is scheduled for a one-night-only appearance to deliver the show’s opening monologue.
Cast Changes at the Ambassador Theatre
Mark Ballas, a three-time winner of the ABC reality competition Dancing With the Stars, returns to the role of the lawyer Billy Flynn. This engagement follows his previous run from April 6 to May 3. Ballas, who made his Broadway debut in 2016 in Jersey Boys and later starred in Kinky Boots, succeeds Matteo Lane in the production. Joining him in the cast is Eddie Cooper, who takes over the role of Amos Hart from Red Concepción. Cooper’s recent Broadway credits include The Fear of 13, Dead Outlaw, and Parade.
Derek Hough’s Chicago Debut
The July 20 performance features a one-night-only appearance by Derek Hough. According to the production, Hough will perform the show’s opening monologue during the 7 PM performance. Following the show, he is scheduled to participate in a post-performance talkback session alongside Ballas. Hough, a judge on Dancing With the Stars, previously appeared on Broadway in Burn the Floor and in the NBC live broadcast of Hairspray Live!
Production Context and History
The current company of Chicago includes Krysta Rodriguez as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Matron “Mama” Morton, and J. Workman as Mary Sunshine. Since its premiere, the musical has been performed in 36 countries and reached an audience of 33 million people. It currently stands as the second-longest running show in Broadway history, trailing only the closed production of The Phantom of the Opera.