Theater News

Backstreet in Chicago: Kevin Richardson to Be Broadway’s Next Billy Flynn

Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson

Kevin Richardson, a member of the popular Backstreet Boys musical group, will assume the role of slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway revival of the Kander and Ebb musical on January 20.

The part is currently being played by film actor Billy Zane. Richardson, 31, will take on the role at the Shubert Theatre and then move with the show to its new home at the Ambassador Theatre on January 29. James Naughton played Billy Flynn when the revival opened in 1996; Jerry Orbach created the role in the original 1975 production, which also starred Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera.

The new movie musical based on the show, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn, is set to open in the top 20 U.S. film markets (including NYC) on December 27 and to begin playing 300 additional screens on January 3.

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