Erika Jayne’s Triumphant Return to Broadway: How ‘Chicago’ Hits Different After a Public Scandal
Erika Jayne is used to the spotlight — and the scrutiny — after years in front of Bravo cameras, tabloid headlines, and on stages around the world. But stepping back into the role of Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago feels like a fresh start for the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star following a tumultuous chapter in her personal life.
Jayne, 53, made her much-anticipated return to the Ambassador Theatre this month, reprising a role she briefly occupied five years ago until the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered Broadway. During a recent VIP celebration at Branch, the private members club at the Park Terrace Hotel, Jayne opened up about how this moment is uniquely meaningful after enduring a public scandal that, ironically, mirrored elements of the famed musical.
“I’m a completely different human being. I’ve gone through so much, and the words just hit a little different,” Jayne told Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea.” “Doing this show hits a little different. There are certain things that hit a little too close to home sometimes.”
Surviving Scandal
Jayne was caught in the swirl of legal drama surrounding her estranged husband, disbarred attorney Tom Girardi, who was found guilty in August 2024 of embezzling more than $15 million through his former law firm, Girardi & Keese. Though the “Pretty Mess” performer repeatedly denied having any knowledge or involvement in her husband’s misdeeds, the media spotlight zeroed in on her over multiple seasons of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
“My whole previous life when I was here is gone, so now there’s a new life,” Jayne said, explaining how her mindset today differs dramatically from her first time playing Roxie Hart. “When you do something like ‘Nowadays,’ when you say something like ‘gone,’ ‘all gone,’ it is all gone for me.”
Finding Catharsis Through Roxie Hart
The parallels between Jayne’s offstage challenges and Roxie Hart’s onstage woes are striking. Both women are thrust into the public eye for alleged wrongdoing, and both wrestle with the idea of reinvention under intense scrutiny. Jayne sees Roxie’s journey as a source of empowerment:
“There’s a lot of themes like that in the show that resonate,” she explained. “I did about 80 shows five years ago and we were cut short. We had unfinished business. So I came back just for three weeks and now we got extended. It’s lovely.”
Jayne’s run has been extended through February 23, adding several more weeks of performances for fans and theatergoers eager to see her take on the iconic role.
A Lifetime Love of Broadway
Though best known now for her pop-dance albums and reality TV persona, Jayne’s passion for musical theater began long before fame. The singer first arrived in New York at 18, dreaming of performing on the Great White Way. She fondly recalled seeing legendary productions during the city’s musical heyday.
“I saw them all. I saw Cats, I saw Starlight Express, I saw Les Mis,” she reminisced. “I haven’t been able to have much fun [since returning], because we’ve been rehearsing and working, but I’ll get to it.”
She’s also determined to catch Audra McDonald’s turn in Gypsy:
“I really want to see Gypsy. Everyone has been telling me, ‘Hey bitch, you need to get over to Gypsy.’”
Embracing the Next Chapter
Now that she has firmly put her past legal entanglements behind her and is navigating a new life post-marriage, Jayne seems intent on embracing every moment Broadway has to offer. Living in Los Angeles might be her current reality, but her heart still belongs to Manhattan, where her showbiz ambitions took root years ago.
“I love New York City. I moved here when I was 18,” Jayne said with a smile, looking across the sparkling skyline. “I’ve been in and out of the city for over 30 years. It’s the best city in the entire world.”
With Chicago extending her run, Jayne has more time to savor the New York she once dreamed of conquering. And like the show’s finale number, “Nowadays,” she’s stepping into a bold new act — one where “all gone” transforms into “all possible.”
For Erika Jayne, it seems, the razzle-dazzle of Broadway is more than just a performance. It’s a reminder that, with grit and a touch of glam, you can rewrite your story and dance your way into a brighter spotlight. And this time, she’s determined to leave the drama strictly on the stage.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
