Josefina Gabrielle and Amra-Faye Wright Return to London’s Chicago

Josefina Gabrielle

Gabrielle, who rejoins the cast on 8 May, replacing Tina Arena. This return to the musical will be her sixth time around in the show. She last appeared in it in October 2006. A former soloist for the National Ballet of Portugal, Gabrielle first came to London theatrical prominence when she played Laurie in National Theatre’s 1998 production of Oklahoma!, opposite Hugh Jackman’s Curly and directed by Trevor Nunn. The production transferred to the West End’s Lyceum Theatre, and she was nominated for a 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She recreated her performance in the Broadway bow of the production at the Gershwin Theatre in 2002, opposite Patrick Wilson as Curly. Her other West End credits include The Witches of Eastwick and Singin’ in the Rain. She recently appeared in Tonight at 8.30 at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester as part of the summer season there.

Amra-Faye Wright

Wright, who has played the role of Velma in the original South African production, in the U.K. national tour, in two stints in the West End in 2005 and 2006 and on Broadway in 2006, will come back to the show on 7 May. She is replacing Annette McLaughlin.

Also returning to the show is Susie McKenna, who replaces Sue Kelvin as Mama Morton, from 8 May. McKenna, who is an associate director of Hackney Empire where she regularly directs, scripts and sometimes stars in the annual pantomime, is also a veteran of the West End stage, where she has appeared in such productions as The Witches of Eastwick.