CHERYL’S SET FOR A LITTLE RAZZLE DAZZLE

THE personality known as Cheryl is in negotiations to join the cast of West End musical Chicago. Cheryl — who was Tweedy when she was in Girls Aloud, Cole when she married footballer Ashley, Fernandez-Versini during her short-lived marriage to French restaurateur JeanBernard, and is now back to her original surname — has met the producers of the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical, which is running at the Phoenix Theatre.

She watched the show on Wednesday with friends. Main producer Barry Weissler and his team, over from New York, also happened to be in the theatre that evening.

There are now discussions about whether she’ll be able to join the musical for a limited guest stint.

Cheryl is being considered for the part of Roxie Hart, who has an extra-marital affair and then shoots her boyfriend (‘the louse’).

She had one of the better voices in Girls Aloud and should be able to learn the choreography in the style of Bob Fosse by Ann Reinking. A spokesman for Ms Tweedy confirmed that she went to see Chicago, but insisted it was ‘with friends, as she is a fan of the show’. However, no one has denied that she might wind up appearing in the production. And she is certainly one of several names on Weissler’s wish list. The current booking period for Chicago runs through to October 30 and it’s not yet known if it will extend; but I do know Weissler would like to keep a grip on the Phoenix for as long as possible to allow Chicago a profitable run.

(Martin Kemp, who can sing, replaces Cuba Gooding Jr, who found it a challenge, as lawyer Billy Flynn on July 2.)

And the Phoenix would have been a handy home for the musical Waitress — another Weissler production. But something else has pipped them to the post. Sue Frost and Randy Adams, the lead producers of the enormously touching musical Come From Away, have bagged the Phoenix for their show.

Come From Away has been a huge success on Broadway and director Christopher Ashley’s work was recognised with a Tony award last year.

Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, it’s the story of the planes diverted from the U.S. to Gander in Newfoundland on 9/11.

Nearly 7,000 passengers, pilots and crew descended on the Canadian island that fateful day. It’s about community, heartbreak and being made to feel welcome.

It will have a run at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in December and January and open at the Phoenix in February with a British cast.