| people recognize Melora Hardin for her role as Jan | | | | She kept dancing throughout her youth as well as |
| in the hit television series The Office, but fans | | | | taking more roles on television and film. Some of |
| have a chance to catch her in a very different | | | | her early film work includes Papa Was a Preacher |
| kind of role starting December 29. She will be | | | | and Soul Man. She almost had her break in 1985 |
| taking the role or murderess Roxy Hart in the | | | | when she was cast as the main |
| Broadway revival of Chicago. Roxie Hart is a | | | | character’s love interest in Back to the |
| young wannabe singer in the 1920s who kills her | | | | Future, but her role was recast because of her |
| boyfriend and tries to make her husband confess | | | | height after Michael J. Fox was chosen for the |
| to the crime. In prison, she meets idol and stage | | | | lead. Hardin did not neglect her studies either, |
| star Velma Kelly, who is also on trial for murder. | | | | enrolling at Sarah Lawrence College. She continued |
| The two share a slick-talking lawyer, Billy Flynn, as | | | | to act as well as sing and dance, taking numerous |
| well as a desire for the limelight. Their rivalry | | | | roles. Some of her more recent television |
| heats up as their trials draw closer. See and hear | | | | appearances have been in Monk, Cover Me: Based |
| all of the drama yourself with Chicago The Musical | | | | on the True Life of an FBI Family and her famous |
| tickets from Hardin will be in the role through | | | | role in The Office. Her film credits lately include |
| February 12, 2009. | | | | The Comebacks and 27 Dresses. She has films |
| The appearance will mark Hardin’s | | | | set for 2009 as well, including 17 Again with teen |
| Broadway debut, but the actress is no rookie | | | | heartthrob Zac Efron. Along with all of her acting |
| actress. Hardin was born to Jerry and Diane | | | | roles, Hardin found the time to release two |
| Hardin Houston, Texas but grew up in Los | | | | albums as well. |
| Angeles. Her father is a prolific character actor | | | | Recently, Hardin showed her stage abilities when |
| while her mom was an acting coach who worked | | | | she appeared as Fantine in Les Miserables at the |
| with everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to Jessica | | | | Hollywood Bowl. She will have many veteran |
| Biel and Hilary Swank. Young Melora loved acting | | | | faces to help her as she joins Chicago. The |
| from the very beginning as well as singing and | | | | current cast has Tom Hewitt as Billy Flynn, |
| songwriting. She first started acting when she | | | | Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, R. Lowe as Mary |
| was just eight years old, appearing in shows like | | | | Sunshine and Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart. |
| The Love Boat and Diff’rent Strokes. It | | | | Her voice will surely be showcased wonderfully as |
| wasn’t just acting, however, that had | | | | well with the famous songs from Chicago like |
| Hardin’s interest. In her teens, she had a | | | | “Roxie,” “Funny Honey” |
| scholarship to New York’s Joffrey Ballet | | | | and “When You’re Good to Mama. |
| Company. | | | | |