NeNe Leakes to star in Broadway's 'Chicago'

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Actress and reality television personality NeNe Leakes is to play Matron "Mama" Morton in the Broadway musical Chicago, beginning Nov. 23.

Leakes, 47, is to take over the iconic role for four weeks through Dec. 20 at the Ambassador Theatre in Manhattan.

NaTasha Yvette Williams will continue to play the character until Nov. 1. Chicago veteran Carol Woods will return to the role Nov. 2 and will play it through Nov. 22.

Leakes is best known for starring in The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She made her stage debut last year in the role of Cinderella's wicked stepmother in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Chicago, which opened in 1996, is now the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.