RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner Jinkx Monsoon Will Make Broadway Debut in Chicago

Two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon will make her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago next year at the Ambassador Theatre.

Monsoon will step into the role of Matron "Mama" Morton beginning January 16, 2023, for an eight-week limited engagement through March 12. She will become the first drag queen to play the role on Broadway.

“I cannot stress enough that this has been a lifelong dream of mine,” says Monsoon. “To be making my Broadway debut, as my favorite role, in one of my favorite shows—that lifelong dream is coming true and then some. The first number I performed in drag was 'All That Jazz,' so this feels almost too serendipitous. But I never question my blessings, I just thank Hecate for them.”

Monsoon is currently on tour with the acclaimed theatrical spectacular, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, co-starring with her best friend and fellow drag star, BenDeLaCreme.

Look Back at the Original Cast of Chicago's Broadway Revival

The current Broadway cast features Charlotte d’Amboise as Roxie Hart, Lana Gordon as Velma Kelly, Ryan Silverman as Billy Flynn, Charity Angél Dawson as Matron “Mama” Morton, Isaac Mizrahi as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

The ensemble includes David Bushman, Christine Cornish, Jennifer Dunne, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Arian Keddell, Mary Claire King, Joseph London, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Brian O'Brien, Denny Paschall, Jermaine R. Rembert, Rachel Schur, Michael Scirrotto, and Brian Spitulnik.

The revival of Chicago began life as one of the three annual Encores! presentations offered by City Center. The musical opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre November 14, 1996, where it remained through February 1997. The musical transferred to the Shubert Theatre and played that house through January 26, 2003. The revival reopened at the Ambassador Theatre January 29 that year.

The hit musical is currently the second-longest running show in Broadway history (after The Phantom of the Opera).

READ: Cast Recording of Broadway's Chicago Revival Will Be Reissued on Vinyl

With a book by the late Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Ebb, Chicago features direction by Walter Bobbie, choreography by the late Ann Reinking, set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.

READ: How the Chicago Costumes Have Evolved Over 25 Years

The current production, produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Bobbie, lighting designer Billington, and Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Fosse.