Ariana Madix, the reality TV star, and author, is ready to take the stage as Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical ‘Chicago’. The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, on the official Instagram account of the show. Madix will play the role of the aspiring singer and murderess for an eight-week limited engagement from January 2 to February 25, 2023.
Madix expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity in a video message. “I am so thrilled and honored to be joining the cast of ‘Chicago’ on Broadway. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I can’t wait to share this experience with all of you,” she said.
The 38-year-old star also revealed that she has a background in theater and has always wanted to be on Broadway. “I was a theatre major; I was a theatre kid; I always wanted to be on Broadway,” Madix shared in an interview with Heavy.com.
Madix follows the footsteps of other celebrities who played Roxie Hart
Madix is not the first celebrity to take on the role of Roxie Hart, the protagonist of ‘Chicago’, who kills her lover and tries to use the media and the legal system to escape conviction. The role was originated by Gwen Verdon in the original 1975 production and revived by Ann Reinking in the 1996 revival. Since then, many famous names have portrayed the character, such as:
- Liza Minnelli
- Brooke Shields
- Ashlee Simpson
- Brandy Norwood
- Christie Brinkley
- Melanie Griffith
- Michelle Williams
- Renée Zellweger (in the 2002 film adaptation)
Madix will join the current cast of ‘Chicago’, which includes Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, Ryan Silverman as Billy Flynn, and Roz Ryan as Matron “Mama” Morton.
Madix’s career and personal life have been in the spotlight lately
Madix is best known for being one of the stars of ‘Vanderpump Rules’, the Bravo reality show that follows the lives of the staff and friends of Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants in Los Angeles. Madix joined the show in season 2 as a bartender at SUR and the girlfriend of Tom Sandoval, another main cast member.
However, their relationship came to an end in season 10, when Sandoval cheated on Madix with Raquel Leviss, a friend and co-worker of Madix. The scandal, dubbed “Scandal,” caused a huge rift among the group and became a major storyline in the show. Madix and Sandoval had a heated confrontation in the season finale, where Madix accused him of ruining her life and home and even attempting to kill her dog.
Madix has since moved on from the drama and focused on her career. She recently starred in a Lifetime movie called ‘Buying Back My Daughter’, where she played a police officer who helps a mother find her missing daughter who is being sex trafficked. She also co-authored a cocktail book with Sandoval called ‘Fancy AF Cocktails: Drink Recipes from a Couple of Professional Drinkers’.
Madix has also said that she is open to returning to ‘Vanderpump Rules for season 11 if the show gets renewed. “I love the show, I love the people, and I love the fans. I think it’s a great platform and a great opportunity. So if they’ll have me, I’ll be there,” she told Heavy.com.
