‘Chicago’ Set to Close on West End After 15 Years

After 15 years, the West End production of “Chicago” is closing.

Producers announced that West End’s longest running revival will end it’s London run on September 1 of this year. The production also is the longest running American musical.

“Bringing ‘Chicago’ to the West End was a pivotal moment in Fran’s and my career,” said producer Barry Weissler, who presented the show along with his wife, Fran. “Running 15 years has been a dream come true. We may be taking our ‘parting shots’ for now, but the Razzle Dazzle will never fade!”

The production opened at the Adelphi Theatre in November 1997, and later won the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production. The show moved to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, and transferred a final time to the Garrick Theatre in November of last year.

“What a great experience this has been,” said composer John Kander in a statement about the closing of the musical. “The fact that the London audience has embraced our show for 15 years fills me with gratitude and pride. Thank you all for your warmth and enthusiasm.”

The original New York production of “Chicago” opened in 1996, and has played in over 20 countries around the world in nine different languages. An estimated 17 million people around the globe have seen the musical.

The musical continues to play on Broadway and also continues a U.K. tour, which has dates scheduled through mid-December of this year. Currently, the traveling version is playing at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin, and after that it will visit U.K. cities including Nottingham, Aberdeen, Sheffield, Belfast, Oxford, Glasgow and Cambridge.

“Chicago” is one of only six musicals that have played 15 or more years in West End. The other five are “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Cats,” “Blood Brothers” and “Starlight Express.”