The supermodel Christie Brinkley has been forced to put her London stage debut on hold as her mother undergoes emergency surgery. She had been due to join the cast of Chicago next Monday.
Brinkley, the former wife of singer/songwriter Billy Joel, was set to play murderous showgirl Roxie Hart for a four week season, reprising the performance she gave on Broadway earlier this year.
Concerns about her parents’ health originally worried the actress turned stage star when she was offered the chance to play Roxie in New York. When consulted about her decision, her father, who cannot speak, simply wrote ‘Take it’ on a piece of paper which the actress subsequently kept taped to her dressing room mirror.
“I am very sorry for the inconvenience and changes to the schedule in London,” commented Brinkley. “I thank my producers and new cast mates for being so flexible and understanding and I look forward to giving it my all in dedication to my loving, generous and supportive parents who set me on this Broadway adventure which now leads me to London’s prestigious West End, when my Dad said, ‘Take it!’”
Chicago regular Amra-Faye Wright, who performed opposite Brinkley on Broadway, will join the London production as planned, starring alongside London’s current Roxie, Sarah Soetaert.
Speaking on behalf of the Chicago company, Producer Barry Weissler said: “We all wish her mother a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing Christie reprise her remarkable performance in our West End production as soon as possible.”
MA