Alyssa Milano stunned in a bodysuit and sheer tights on Monday night as she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago at NYC’s Ambassador Theatre.
The American actress, 51, looked fantastic as she embodied Roxie in a short wavy brunette wig and red lipstick, and silver dance shoes.
Alyssa, best known for starring in Charmed and Melrose Place beamed as she cradled a large bouquet of roses.
She was joined onstage by Kimberly Marable, who portrays Velma Kelly, and she had an identical bouquet.
Despite beginning her career in theatre, Monday marked Alyssa Broadway debut, as her early roles took place off-Broadway.
Alyssa Milano, 51, stunned in a bodysuit and sheer tights on Monday night as she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago at NYC ‘s Ambassador Theatre
The American actress, 51, looked fantastic as she embodied Roxie in a short wavy brunette wig and red lipstick
Alyssa, best known for starring in Charmed and Melrose Place beamed as she cradled a large bouquet of roses
Alyssa was announced to be starring in the second Broadway revival of Chicago, which debuted in 1975, in August.
She said in a statement: ‘I could not be more excited to be getting back to my roots in musical theatre. When I was 8 and first joined the national touring company for Annie, I never could have imagined the 40+ year career ahead of me.
‘To finally be making my Broadway debut in the role of Roxie Hart in the iconic musical Chicago and to stand on the shoulders of such honorable lineage is all that a little girl who loved to sing and dance and make people smile could have ever dreamt of. I can’t wait to hit the stage.’
Alyssa told New York Theatre Guide: ‘My interpretation of Roxie is based on two lines she has … One is “I’m older than I ever intended to be” and the other is “Some men are like mirrors, and when I look at Amos, I’m always a kid”. Those two things informed all I needed to really know about how I was going to approach it.
‘She had a rough childhood; maybe there’s a little bit of arrested development. Part of her still wants to be recognized as a kid and wants to feel safe. The other part is she’s this old broad whose opportunity has passed her by, or so she thinks.
‘That is my approach, to try to straddle this youthful playfulness, but also a seriousness and a darkness — because, I mean, she does kill someone.’
John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse’s classic musical follows murderesses Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly as they compete for the public’s sympathy and lawyer Billy Flynn’s vows to get them fame – and acquital.
Chicago has won six Tony Awards, two Laurence Olivier Awards, and a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.
She was joined onstage by Kimberly Marable, who portrays Velma Kelly, and she had an identical bouquet
Despite beginning her career in theatre, Monday marked Alyssa Broadway debut, as her early roles took place off-Broadway
She said in a statement: ‘I could not be more excited to be getting back to my roots in musical theatre’
She added: ‘To stand on the shoulders of such honorable lineage is all that a little girl who loved to sing and dance and make people smile could have ever dreamt of’
Its ongoing 1996 revival holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.
Chicago is also Broadway’s second longest-running show in history, behind only The Phantom of the Opera, which closed in April 2023.
With the Phantom Of The Opera’s closing makes Chicago the longest-running show currently on Broadway.
Chicago (1996 revival) will have run for 29 years in November, compared to The Phantom Of The Opera’s 35.
Previous Roxie Harts include Pamela Anderson, Melanie Griffith, Bonnie Langford, Brandy, Brooke Shields, Denise Van Outen, and Rita Wilson.
Velma Kelly has been portrayed by A Different World’s Jasmine Guy, and Billy Flynn by Usher, Maxwell Caufield, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Chicago was adapted into a film in 2002 – with Renée Zellweger as Roxie, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma, and Richard Gere as Billy – and it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Alyssa is taking over from Ariana Madix and will star as Roxie until November 10.
