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Angelica Ross makes Broadway history as the first trans woman to play a lead role in Chicago, as Roxie Hart. Ross joins a small group who have performed major roles on Broadway as trans actors. Best known for her commercial music releases, and for previous roles in Pose and American Horror Story, 41-year old Angelica Ross will debut as Roxie on 12th September on a run that will last till 6th November.
Angelica has received a flurry of well-wishes and messages from excited theatre fans since the news broke at the beginning of August. Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD VP of Communications & Talent released a statement capturing the wider sentiment, saying:
“Chicago’s Roxie Hart is one of the most recognizable, iconic, and beloved characters in the history of Broadway, and a true talent like Angelica Ross will delight audiences with her impressive acting, singing and performance skills. Angelica is also a respected leader in the transgender community, and joins L. Morgan Lee as trans women of color currently starring on Broadway.”
Ramos is referring to the successes of established current performer L. Morgan Lee, who has also recently made history for being the first openly transgender person to earn a Tony Award nomination in an acting category for her performance in A Strange Loop. Lee and Ross follow their peers who have also taken Broadway by storm in recent years, including Peppermint (who performed the first principal role on Broadway as an openly trans woman when she starred in Head Over Heels), Alexandra Billings (who performed as Wicked’s Madame Morrible), as well as Kate Bornstein and Ty Defoe (from Straight White Men).
After 25 years, CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one showstopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary — plus the return of Broadway and a new, all-star cast — you’ve got to come see why the name on everyone’s lips is still…CHICAGO.
The show has an impressively Tony-laden creative team behind it – Chicago is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie, with choreography by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking. Set design is by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, sound design by Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer and casting by Stewart/Whitley.
We have high hopes Angelica could be added to the list of Tony Award winners in the future, and would not be surprised to see her nominated following her run as Roxie. We join excited audiences everywhere wishing her all the best for opening night, and applaud Angelica’s continuous empowerment and representation of the theatre and the LGBT+ communities.
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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