The fall season on Broadway just got a lot more exciting.
Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. is joining “Chicago” on October 6th for a limited run as Billy Flynn. Cuba has gotten rave reviews playing Billy Flynn in London’s West End. This is a nice break for him from movies and TV (he just came off his Emmy nominated role as OJ Simpson).
Cuba has the pipes! You may not know this but his late father Cuba Gooding Sr. was the lead singer of The Main Ingredient, the wonderful 70s R&B group that had hits like “Everybody Plays the Fool” and “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely.”
He also has the swagger. I can’t believe I’m going back to see “Chicago” again– I went this year to see the great Valerie Simpson– but I won’t miss Cuba Gooding Jr. His run is only for six weeks.
More good news: beloved Tony winner and Broadway star Laura Benanti is taking over the role of Eliza in “My Fair Lady” from October through February in the Lincoln Center production. Lauren Ambrose is leaving to do a TV series. Benanti won a Tony in 2008 for “Gypsy,” and has four other nominations including one for “She Love Me,” which she should have won, frankly. Maybe now I’ll be given press tickets. It would be loverly!Â
