New principal casting has been announced for Broadway’s “Chicago.” Latin Grammy Award winner and Grammy nominee Sebastián Yatra will step into the role of Billy Flynn on Nov. 25, playing a limited engagement through Dec. 22. Yatra will succeed Max von Essen, who will play his final performance in the role on Nov. 24. Additionally, “Chicago” alum Kimberly Marable will return to the production at the Ambassador Theatre on Sept. 16, stepping into the role of Velma Kelly. Marable will replace Robyn Hurder, who will exit the production on Sept. 15.
“Getting to Broadway was something I had imagined but it seemed impossible and now that it is coming true in ‘Chicago,’ which is such an iconic show, is something that fills me with great excitement,” said Yatra in a statement. “I remember many years ago when I went to see ‘Evita’ on Broadway and Ricky Martin was starring in it. It blew my mind to see a Latino on Broadway, also performing in English. This is a commitment that requires a lot of discipline and I can’t wait to learn a lot from the cast and crew.”
Colombian-born Yatra won two 2022 Latin Grammy Awards: Best Pop Song for “Tacones Rojos” and Best Pop Vocal Album for his third studio album, “Dharma,” which was also nominated for a 2023 Best Latin Pop Album Grammy Award. He received an additional Grammy nomination in 2020 for his second studio album, “Fantasia.” Yatra, whose music style encompasses pop, reggaeton and trap music, released his first single, “El psicólogo,” in 2013, eventually putting out his first full album, “Mantra,” in 2018. His 2019 single “Runaway,” which featured the Jonas Brothers, was his first bilingual song.
Marable played a previous tenure as Velma from April 2023 to January 2024. Her other Broadway credits include “Hadestown,” “Sister Act” and “The Lion King.” She opened the national tour of “Hadestown” as Persephone, a role she had previously understudied on the Main Stem.
In addition to Hurder and von Essen, the current company of “Chicago” includes Charlotte d’Amboise as Roxie Hart (through Sept. 15), Orfeh as Matron “Mama” Morton (through Sept. 15), Red Concepción as Amos Hart and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. As previously announced, Alyssa Milano will take over the role of Roxie on Sept. 16. Casting for “Chicago” is by ARC/Duncan Stewart and Patrick Maravilla.
Featuring a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse, “Chicago” is directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Ann Reinking. The musical opened on Nov. 14, 1996, and is the second-longest running show (play or musical) in Broadway history.
“Chicago” is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.
