Cast

Anthony has been thrilling audiences from the moment he arrived on the theatrical scene and has successfully inhabited a diversity of roles in opera and musical theatre, his versatility gaining him an honoured place on the international stage.

From his debut with the Australian Opera in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1980, he has left an indelible stamp on the industry both at home and abroad. Anthony’s lengthy stage credits include the London National Theatre production of Guys and Dolls, making his music theatre debut with the role of Sky Masterson in 1986, creating the role of Enjolras in the Australian production of Les Misérables (1988), and the title role of the Phantom in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (1990 and 2007-2008). In 1995 he enjoyed a joyous season in Lucy Simon’s The Secret Garden as Archie Craven, and collaborated with her again in 2010, creating the role of Dr Yuri Zhivago in the Australian premiere production of Doctor Zhivago: The Musical. Other highlights include Australian tours of Annie (2000 and 2012), seasons with Opera Australia and a critically acclaimed performance as Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof in 2016.

Anthony made his Broadway debut in 2013, portraying the iconic role of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in the 35th Anniversary production of Annie, directed by James Lapine. His performance won him several Broadway nominations (Drama Desk, Drama League, People’s Choice), and in 2015 he was invited to return to the US to perform the dual roles of Miguel De Cervantes/ Don Quixote in The Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington production of Man of La Mancha. This portrayal won him the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. The same year he replaced Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland, playing the roles of Charles Frohman/ Captain Hook.

Anthony made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2013 but is no stranger to the concert platform, performing around Australia with our Symphony Orchestras. His studio recordings have spanned more than 20 years and include solo albums, cast recordings and live performances in concert and with Opera Australia. His love of “flawed anti-heroes” continued with his portrayal of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His performance was hailed by critics and was a welcome addition to his theatrical canon.

Anthony has been honoured by the nation receiving the title of Living National Treasure, and his outstanding achievements acknowledged with his investiture as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to the performing arts. He is married to Amanda and divides his time and career between Australia’s capital cities and New York.

Zoë is thrilled to be returning to the musical theatre stage after many years in television and film projects which have made her one of Australia’s most loved actresses.

Zoë is perhaps best known for her role as Mel Rafter in the original cast of Packed To The Rafters (Seven Network), which garnered her a nomination for a TV Week Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress following her character’s shock death that left Australian audiences heartbroken. Zoë had previously been nominated for two TV Week Logie Awards for her lead role as Miki Mavros in the SBS comedy series, Kick.

Following Packed to the Rafters, Zoë went on to play leading lady Mary Barrett in Seven Network’s period drama series Wild Boys. For the Nine Network, Zoë played Sonya Hyde in Hyde and Seek, Mary Ann Hodge in Underbelly Files: Chopper and appeared in Love Child and the final series of Doctor Doctor. She then returned to the Seven Network to spend time in Summer Bay, where she played Dr Alex Neilson in Home and Away and, most recently, completed filming on Taika Waititi’s Time Bandits for Apple TV+.

Overseas, Zoë played the lead role of McKenzie in Nicole Conn’s US indie feature More Beautiful For Having Been Broken, which premiered at the Frameline Festival in San Francisco and earned her Best Actress awards at various film festivals globally. Her other feature credits include Shane Abbess’ The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One, Drive Hard starring John Cusack, Fatal Honeymoon with Harvey Keitel, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

A graduate of The Victorian College of the Arts (Bachelor of Dance), earlier in her career Zoë performed in several seasons for Opera Australia and toured nationally in musicals such as Grease – The Arena Spectacular, Footloose, We Will Rock You, Oh! What A Night and Eurobeat. Most recently Zoë played Mme Dindon in La Cage Aux Folles starring alongside Paul Capsis and Michael Cormick.

Zoë feels honoured to be playing the iconic Velma Kelly in Chicago, a role which has not only been played by some of musical theatre’s biggest stars around the world, but has always been at the top of Zoë’s wish-list of characters she would love to play.

Since graduating from WAAPA in 2006, Lucy has cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s musical theatre leading ladies performing in a huge range of roles over the last 17 years.

Most recently she appeared as Winifred Banks in the critically acclaimed Cameron Mackintosh/Michael Cassel Group/Disney revival of Mary Poppins. Prior to this Lucy starred in Victorian Opera’s production of Kurt Weill’s anti-capitalist musical Happy End as Lillian Holiday. The start of 2022 also saw her play the protagonist Alison Bechdel in the acclaimed MTC/STC Australian premiere production of Fun Home (Green Room and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Performer in a Leading Role in a musical). In between seasons of Fun Home, Lucy reprised her role of Mrs Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Crossroads Live) for which she received a Helpmann Award nomination.

Following the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic to the Arts, Lucy was lucky enough to appear in the first main stage commercial musical to return after the shutdown of all theatre as Catherine in Pippin for Crossroads Live. Her other recent career highlights include Cynthia in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group, Green Room Award nomination), Miss Honey in Matilda: The Musical (Louise Withers/RSC, Helpmann Award nomination), The Spirit of Christmas (QPAC), There’s Something About Music (The Little Red Company), Heather Chandler in Heathers (ShowWork Productions), Patty in Tim Finn’s Ladies in Black (QTC/MTC), Rizzo in Grease (GFO, Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations), Cinderella in Into the Woods (Victorian Opera, Helpmann and Green Room Award nominations), Georgia Hendricks in Curtains (The Production Company), Gertrude Lawrence in Noël and Gertie (CDP Theatre Producers, Glug Award for Best Actress in a Musical), Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera (STC/Malthouse/Victorian Opera), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (TML Enterprises), Emma in Jekyll & Hyde (TML Enterprises) and Anne in A Little Night Music (Opera Australia). Lucy also created the role of Lara in the world première of Doctor Zhivago opposite Anthony Warlow (GFO, Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations).

Lucy’s film credits include The Eternity Man (Channel 4 UK/ABC) and the lead role in the short film Identical, amongst other commercial and television appearances including the National Anthem at the State of Origin, The Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols (Channel 9) and appearances on The Morning Show (Channel 7) and Today Extra (Channel 9).

Lucy’s one-woman show Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black toured Australia to rave reviews at venues such as the prestigious Spiegeltent, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, His Majesty’s Theatre Perth and La Salon at Claire’s Kitchen. Her album featuring arrangements and musical direction by Daniel Edmonds is available across all streaming platforms.

Lucy is over the moon to be starring as Roxie in Chicago, a true bucket list moment.

Peter Rowsthorn is a well-loved Australian comedy icon and character actor. A masterful MC of corporate and private functions, he has been performing across mediums for four decades.

Peter is best known as long-suffering husband and pants-man Brett Craig on the hugely successful television series Kath & Kim, reprising this role on the silver screen in 2012 in Kath & Kimderella.

Peter appeared regularly on four series of Thank God You’re Here, popped up on Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation, and hosted four series of the delightful Can We Help on the ABC. He has had roles in Open Slather, Underbelly: Squizzy, It’s A Date, Timothy, and featured on the SBS genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?. In 2018 Peter was one of the most popular celebrity contestants on the fourth series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. Most recently Peter travelled the world with his daughter and Triple J broadcaster, Frankie, in the Network Ten series, The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition.

Peter has performed on stage in Black Swan State Theatre Company’s productions of Glengarry Glen Ross, The Importance Of Being Ernest and Laughter On The 23rd Floor. His other theatre credits include The Tempest, Certified Male and The New Rocky Horror Show. Peter’s film credits include Crackers, Paper Planes, Looking For Grace and I Met a Girl, the short film Welcome To Dookie, and the feature film Three Summers, the first Australian movie from British writer and comic Ben Elton.

In 2019, he performed in Bonnie Lythgoe’s latest pantomime production, Jack and the Beanstalk, and in 2020, he sang and danced as Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Crown Perth.

Asabi is an American-born Australian performer. Her most recent credits include Motormouth Maybelle in both the Australian national tour of the Original Broadway production of Hairspray! The Musical (Crossroads Live) and the US Broadway national tour of Hairspray! (NETWorks), Mama Euralie in the Australian Premiere of Once On This Island (Altitude Theatre), Marianne Angelle in the Australian Premiere of The Revolutionists (The Curators), The Princess Who Kissed The Frog in the Australian Premiere of Disenchanted (Mad About Theatre) and Erma Franklin in RESPECT: The Show (McGee Entertainment).

Asabi is thrilled to join the cast of Chicago and play her dream role, Matron Mama Morton, and wishes to thank her friends and family for their never-ending support and her agents at Kermond Management for tirelessly looking after her.

Asabi is a proud member of MEAA.

A graduate of Monash University and Showfit, S’s major theatre credits include Mayor Humdinger in the UK, Australian and Asian tours of Paw Patrol Live! (LifeLike Touring), Roger in Grease – The Arena Experience, Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle in Mack & Mabel (Hayes Theatre Co/ Working Management), Man 3 in First Date – The Musical (Pursued By Bear/ Chapel off Chapel) and Swing in Peppa Pig Live! (LifeLike Touring). An established cabaret artist, show highlights include a critically acclaimed John Farnham inspired cabaret (London, Melbourne Cabaret Festival and Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide Fringe Festivals), Your Diva Needs You and Fat Boy Slimm…er (Melbourne Fringe). S recently established the Australian Musical Company, producing bespoke entertainment for corporate and charity events. Excited and proud to join the international institution that is Chicago, S gives heartfelt thanks to Mum and Dad for their unwavering support and encouragement, as well as CMT Management for their continued belief and guidance.