R&B Legend Valerie Simpson to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Chicago’

Simpson will step into the role of Matron “Mama” Morton beginning March 12 at the Ambassador Theatre, taking over for Grammy winner and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss.  According to Playbill, Joining Simpson will be Chaz Lamar Shepherd (original Broadway production of The Color Purple as Billy Flynn; current Billy Flynn, Tom Hewitt, departs the production to appear in The Sting at Paper Mill Playhouse.

Simpson, along with her late husband Nick Ashford, penned such classics as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand,” “I’m Every Woman,” and “Solid.”  Four of her songs are currently featured in the national tour of Motown the Musical.  In May 2014, Simpson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College Music.

While this marks her Broadway acting debut, she headlined an Ashford & Simpson special engagement alongside Al Green at the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin) in 1976.

Chicago currently stars Bianca Marroquín as Roxie Hart, Amra-Faye Wright, as Velma Kelly, Evan Harrington as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.