Los Angeles Life and Style Entertainment News

Record breaking Smash Musical Chicago returns to LA for two week run, exclusively at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, May 15-27

Hollywood, Calif. – CHICAGO, the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards^® including Best Musical Revival will return to Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre for a strictly limited two-week engagement May 15 – 27, 2012.  After her critically-acclaimed debut as “Roxie Hart” on Broadway and in London’s West End, Christie Brinkley, one of the world’s most successful supermodels, will make her highly-anticipated Los Angeles debut this spring as she reprises her killer role in this six-time Tony Award-winning musical smash hit when it plays the Pantages Theatre.

CHICAGO Producer Barry Weissler said: “We are thrilled to welcome Christie and her incredible dedication, focus and determination that she exhibits… I’m excited to share with audiences the stellar performance that she delivers.”

Throughout her phenomenal career as one of the country’s most successful and recognizable supermodels, Christie Brinkley has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers worldwide. But more than that, she also excels as an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist, environmentalist and political activist. Christie Brinkley recently launched a line of natural skin care products as part of her new company, Christie Brinkley Beauty. Combining her modeling experience with her artistic talents and diverse interests, Christie’s career over the years has been interesting and dynamic.

A Ford model for over thirty years, Christie was discovered by a photographer in Paris at the age of eighteen. Since then, she has become the first model to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated for three consecutive years, and appeared in the publication’s annual swimsuit issues and television specials for years to follow.

In 1976, CoverGirl gave Christie her first “big break” in modeling with a contract, which launched the start of a 20-year partnership that marks the longest-running cosmetics contract of any model in history.

Christie is known for her commitment to health and fitness. Christie wrote and illustrated a health and beauty book, Christie Brinkley’s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Guide which topped The New York Times bestseller list.

On the big screen, she made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the hit feature film National Lampoon’s Vacation and its 1997 sequel, Vegas Vacation. She has also famously appeared in Billy Joel’s classic music videos “Uptown Girl,” “Keeping the Faith” and “All About Soul,” as well as Mick Jones’ music video “Just Wanna Hold.”

On television, Christie has appeared on NBC’s “Mad About You” and hosted Lifetime Television’s “InStyle Celebrity Weddings,” which became the highest rated special in Lifetime’s history. She has also been featured in Vh1’s “Pop Culture Icons” series. Christie has been the subject of many documentaries including the HBO program “Beautiful Baby, Beautiful,” Lifetime’s “Intimate Portrait” and “Barbara Walters’ Oscar Night Special.”  Christie is an active member and dedicated supporter/activist for many organizations including UNICEF’s Art and Entertainment Support Committee, Handgun Control, Ovarian Cancer, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Cousteau Society, Southern Poverty Law, The Wilderness Society and stopglobalwarming.org.  She currently lives in New York with two of her three children, Sailor Lee and Jack Paris. Her daughter, actress/singer Alexa Ray Joel, lives in New York City.

Tickets for CHICAGO may be purchased online at www.BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1–800-982-2787.  Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Pantages Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.  The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Vine Street, and the box office opens daily at 10am.

Now in its 16th year on Broadway, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.  With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, CHICAGO features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer.  CHICAGO is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.  For more information on CHICAGO, please visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com.

The performance schedule for CHICAGO is Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm.  CHICAGOhas a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission and is recommended for ages 13 and up.  (Please note that in consideration of audiences, no one under 5 will be admitted to the theatre.)

For tickets or more information about CHICAGO’s Los Angeles engagement, please visit the Pantages Theatre’s official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.