On this day in 2003, Backstreet Boys’ member Kevin Richardson made his debut in the Broadway musical “Chicago.”

Kevin played the role of lawyer Billy Flynn, replacing Billy Zane (“Titanic,” “The Phantom”). He went on to play the role until March of 2003. Later on, during his break from the Backstreet Boys, Kevin toured with “Chicago,” and did performance in London and Japan.

Kevin Richardson, of Backstreet Boys fame, will join the Broadway company of Chicago on Jan. 20.

Richardson will succeed Billy Zane in the role of super-smooth lawyer Billy Flynn. Zane’s last performance in the Kander and Ebb musical is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2003. Richardson will play the role at the Shubert Theatre through Jan. 26 and will move with the company to the Ambassador Theatre on Jan. 29. He is scheduled to stay with the production through March 9.

A member of the Backstreet Boys group, whose record sales number 71 million, Kevin Richardson will be making his Broadway debut in Chicago. He has, however, performed in regional theatrical productions. Richardson follows another boy band star, ‘N Sync’s Joey Fatone, who made his Main Stem bow on Aug. 5 in Jonathan Larson’s Rent.

Kander and Ebb’s Tony-winning revival currently stars Australian stage star Caroline O’Connor as Velma Kelly, Broadway veteran Charlotte d’Amboise as Roxie Hart, the aforementioned Billy Zane as Billy Flynn with Rob Bartlett as Amos Hart and Roz Ryan as Matron “Mama” Morton. The original revival cast included Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Joel Grey, James Naughton and Marcia Lewis. [Source]