Comedian Matteo Lane to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Chicago’

Comedian and actor Matteo Lane is headed to Broadway, joining the cast of the long-running revival of “Chicago” later this month.

Producers announced that Lane will take over the role of attorney Billy Flynn beginning June 22 at the Ambassador Theatre. The engagement marks the Broadway debut of the stand-up comic, whose career has spanned television, film, live comedy, music, and visual arts.

Lane joins a cast currently led by Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly and Rachel Schur as Roxie Hart. Actress Krysta Rodriguez is scheduled to begin performances as Roxie Hart on June 15. The company also features Nik Walker as Billy Flynn, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Matron “Mama” Morton, Greg Hildreth as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

The ensemble includes Tia Altinay, Zach Bravo, Austin Dunn, Jennifer Dunne, John Michael Fiumara, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Chelsea James, Christopher Kelley, James T. Lane, Jenny Laroche, Marty Lawson, Joseph London, Kristen Faith Oei, Denny Paschall, Mariah Reives, Sean Samuels, Samantha Sturm, and Jeff Sullivan.

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The current production of “Chicago” traces its roots to New York City Center’s Encores! series before opening on Broadway in 1996. After an initial run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the revival moved to the Shubert Theatre and later transferred to its current home at the Ambassador Theatre in 2003.

Over the past three decades, the production has become one of Broadway’s most enduring successes. The musical has been staged in dozens of countries and has reached audiences numbering in the tens of millions worldwide. Today, it stands as the second-longest-running show in Broadway history, trailing only “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Created by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, the revival features direction by Walter Bobbie and choreography by Ann Reinking. The creative team also includes scenic designer John Lee Beatty, costume designer William Ivey Long, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designer Scott Lehrer, and casting by ARC.

For more information and additional details, theatergoers can visit chicagothemusical.com.