Pamela Anderson on Broadway, Set to Play Murderess Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’
Actor Pamela Anderson has traded in her iconic one-piece red Baywatch bathing suit for a set of jazz shoes as she takes on the role of murderess Roxie Hart in the Broadway play Chicago. This experience will be Anderson’s first time starring in a musical on the Great White Way.
Chicago is the longest-running Broadway musical and subsequently features iconic tunes, dances, and costumes set in the prohibition era of the Windy City. It is a satire of the corruption found in the criminal justice system and the concept of criminals chasing fame and fortune.
What is ‘Chicago’ about?
Chicago follows the story of Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and is arrested, despite her attempts to convince her husband, Amos, to lie for her.
In the Cook County Jail, Roxie meets her hero, famed double-murderess, and nightclub performer Velma Kelly. Both employ the same lawyer, the greedy Billy Flynn. However, tensions come to a head as each woman vies for the spotlight of the area’s newspaper reporters to get off of death row.
This jazz age musical first appeared on Broadway in 1975. It ran for two years before closing in 1977. The musical underwent a revival in 1996. The story subsequently inspired two feature films, one in 1927 and the other in 2002.
Pamela Anderson will star as Roxie Hart
Anderson will make her Broadway debut in the musical as Roxie Hart. This casting pairs one of the most recognizable bombshells of the last 25 years in a play whose focus is on searching for fame.
“From Baywatch to Broadway. I am inspired by the unexpected,” Anderson told the Associated Press in a statement.
“This is it, and I will not hold back anymore. I am letting go. I am ready to see what I’m capable of. For Chicago, I’ll be putting all my cards on the table. I am doubling down — on me.”
“Pam is a very moral person, extremely moral. She cares about animals and the planet. She cares about people,” said producer Barry Weissler.
However, Weissler quickly pointed out the differences between Anderson and the character she will portray.
“The difference between Pam and Roxie is that Roxie doesn’t care about anyone but herself. She doesn’t give a damn about the outside world as long as she can be famous. Pam comes with opposite attributes in life, but she fits because of her celebrity, what she’s gone through in life.”
Weissler continued, praising Anderson. “She can surprise a lot of people. The woman has acting chops. She certainly can dance, and her singing voice is quite good. So here we go.”
After several years of staying out of the spotlight, Anderson found her whirlwind romance and marriage to ex-husband Tommy Lee fictionalized in the Hulu series Pam & Tommy.
On March 3, Anderson announced an authorized documentary about her life which will air on Netflix.
Who else has played Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’?
A 2002 film version of the musical starred Renee Zellweger as Roxie, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah, and Richard Gere.
The role of Roxie Hart was originated by Broadway legend Gwen Verdon and with legendary choreography by Bob Fosse.
Other famous names who have portrayed the character on Broadway are Melanie Griffith, Christie Brinkley, Marilu Henner, Brooke Shields, Lisa Rinna, Gretchen Mol, Ashlee Simpson, Brandy Norwood, Jennifer Nettles, and Robin Givens.
While Pamela Anderson lacks Broadway experience, she isn’t wholly new to dancing on stage. Fans may recall Anderson competed on season 10 of Dancing with the Stars.
Anderson’s eight-week engagement at the Ambassador Theater runs from April 12 to June 5.
