What's On Stage 2002

9th August 2002 - What's on Stage News
Wet's Pellow Extends by Eight Weeks in Chicago 

Former "Wet Wet Wet" lead singer Marti Pellow, who made his stage debut this past June in Chicago, has extended his engagement in the long-running West End musical by eight weeks. He will now continue to play the role of super-slick lawyer Billy Flynn until 16 November 2002 at the Adelphi Theatre.
Co-stars Anita Louise Combe (as Roxie Hart), Anna-Jane Casey (Velma Kelly), Paul Rider (Amos Hart) and Chrissie Hammond (Mama Morton) will also remain with the show until 16 November. In addition, the show itself announced its own extension this week. It has added another six months to its booking period and is now taking bookings up to 30 March 2003.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Pellow had 12 British Top Ten songs with Wet Wet Wet, including the singles "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Goodnight Girl" and the mega-hit "Love Is All Around" from the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Since leaving the band in 1999, Pellow's solo career has seen the release of the album Smile and a sell-out UK tour that included two nights at the Royal Albert Hall.
Chicago, 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, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher and musical direction by Gareth Valentine. The production is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.
The musical opened at the Adelphi in November 1997 and went on to win the 1998 Olivier for Outstanding Musical Production and the 1998 Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. A separate touring production - starring John Altman, Jane Fowler and Amra-Faye Write - continues its extensive UK-wide schedule. Internationally, Chicago is currently playing in New York as well as on tour in the US and a new production will open in Moscow in October 2002.
- by Terri Paddock