Israel’s Shiri Maimon takes on Broadway with role in ‘Chicago’
Performer impressed the musical’s producers with her work in ‘Evita’ at Habima
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Israeli singer Shiri Maimon will be heading to Broadway soon to star in the musical “Chicago,” in the performer’s first major role outside Israel.
Maimon, watched by millions as one of the judges on “The X Factor Israel,” recently starred in “Evita” at Habima in Tel Aviv, where she was reportedly seen by the “Chicago” producers, who invited her to come and audition in New York, Channel 10 TV’s celebrity follower Guy Pines reports.
The pop star, who first made her way to stardom by way of the first season of “Kochav Nolad,” the Israeli version of “American Idol,” will star as Roxie Hart in the play, Broadway’s second longest-running musical.
She’ll be following in the footsteps of just a couple of other Israelis who have made it to the Great White Way; Chaim Topol played Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” and Dudu Fisher also made it there, playing Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables.”
Maimon has the singing and acting chops to make it in NYC. The 36-year-old first came onstage with the IDF entertainment troupe. Her appearance in the first season of “Kochav Nolad” was followed by a series of albums and an appearance at the 2015 Eurovision in Kiev.
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