Ailing Usher Bails on "Chicago"

Fri., Oct. 13, 2006 7:07 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

Chicago is no longer Usher's kind of town. And that has producers feeling about as sick as the bedridden star.

After learning this week that the platinum-selling R&B artist was no longer on hand to razzle-dazzle 'em due to an "extreme" case of strep throat, disgruntled ticket-holders demanded their money back, costing the show close to $400,000 in refunds, the New York Post reported Friday.

Usher has been offstage since last Friday, producing a "horrible" effect on ticket sales, according to producer Barry Weissler. Since the Grammy winner's debut as legal slickster Billy Flynn Aug. 22, the box office has averaged $800,000 in ticket sales per week.

"We never expected this," Weissler told the Post. "He was very sick last week, and it's just gotten worse. Unfortunately, he won't be coming back." Due to the surge in sales, Usher's original run was extended by two weeks and was reset to end Saturday.

Despite having to cut the song-and-dance short by a week, missing 11 performances overall, Usher's participation still helped Chicago post a profit of an "amazing" $1.7 million, an unnamed show source told the Post. Which is good, considering Usher was also the highest paid Billy Flynn to ever defend murderess and aspiring superstar Roxie Hart, despite New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley calling Usher proof that "it's possible to like someone and be bored by him at the same time."

"We just hope Usher gets healthy soon," Weissler said. "He was one of the best Billy Flynns we've ever had. He's welcome back anytime."

Oct. 14 also being the almost-28-year-old's birthday, Usher had planned a post-show party at Manhattan restaurant The Grand, but the shindig has since been canceled.

Shortly after the curtain rose on his theatrical career, Usher, ever the sensualist, told People that "Broadway is like a monogamous relationship. Doing anything else, like acting in Hollywood--which is great--it's like a one-night stand. You do it and then you keep moving."

To MTV News, the Confessions singer said: "If you think that you will be able to indulge in the nightlife, the wild life of New York City and do Broadway, it's impossible If you do catch me out, it'll be a miracle because I take this that serious. It takes a lot to give 120 percent of yourself as an actor, as a vocalist, as a performer, and do it again and again, for eight shows a week.

"Broadway is no joke."

"He is really saddened that he cannot close out his last week in Chicago with a bang," Usher's mom and manager, Jonnetta Patton, said. "He expresses his sincere apologies to all of his fans who purchased tickets to see him this final week."

In other news from the theatrical Windy City, Huey Lewis steps into the Billy role Nov. 20. Ashlee Simpson, meanwhile, joined the London cast of the musical last month, playing Roxie.