NEW YORK — LBGTQ+ history will be made on the Great White Way.
Angelica Ross has been cast as Roxie Hart in “Chicago,” becoming the first openly transgender woman to play a leading role on Broadway.
Earlier this year, “A Strange Loop” breakout L Morgan Lee made history as the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Tony Award.
Producers of Broadway’s longest-running Tony Award-winning musical revival announced Thursday that Ross is scheduled to perform an eight-week limited engagement at the Ambassador Theatre from Sept. 12 though Nov. 6, 2022.
“Chicago” marks the “Pose” star’s Broadway debut.
The 41-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin, native rose to prominence with her breakthrough role in the Ryan Murphy and Steven Canals-produced drama series, which is recognized for featuring the largest cast of transgender actors in regular roles, as well as the largest LGBTQ+ cast for a scripted series.
Ross has since starred in Murphy’s “American Horror Story” series and the short film “Brutal.”
The murderous vaudevillian villain Roxie Hart is one of Broadway’s iconic leading roles.
Ann Reinking, who originated the role in the 1996 revival, won a Tony Award for best choreography. Throughout the past 25 years, a who’s who of actresses have been featured in the 1920s-set Kander & Ebb musical.
Among them are, most recently, “Baywatch” idol Pamela Anderson, singer and actress Brandy, former supermodel Christie Brinkley, actress Sofia Vergara, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne and Lisa Renna, alongside model Brooke Shields. In 2010, Grammy winner Michelle Williams razzle-dazzled in the role, after making history as the first Black woman to perform the role on London’s West End the year before.
Two-time Oscar winner Renee Zellweger portrayed Roxie Hart in the 2001 film adaptation, which also starred Catherine Zeta Jones.
"'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,” said Anthony Allen Ramos, vice president of Communications & Talent, GLAAD.
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