Pamela Anderson to make Broadway debut playing Roxie Hart in 'Chicago'

Pamela Anderson is set to make her Broadway debut.

The former "Baywatch" icon, 54, will play Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" for an eight-week run starting April 12 at New York City's Ambassador Theatre.

In a statement, Anderson said, "I have always been a huge fan of [choreographer and writer] Bob Fosse's & Gwen Verdon's work. Ann Reinking, too

Fosse choreographed the original Broadway show, in which Verdon starred as Roxie Hart. Frequent Fosse collaborator Reinking later starred as Hart in the 1996 Broadway revival.

"Playing Roxie Hart is a dream fulfilled," Anderson went on. "Performing Fosse, you don't have time to get in your head. You can't dance, sing and think at the same time. There is a freedom, a unique joy in knowing it's all about the work. Playing Roxie Hart is a sweet escape for me."

"Chicago" debuted on Broadway in 1975 and closed in 1997. The current revival production celebrated its 25th anniversary on the Great White Way last year.

A film version of the musical, directed by Rob Marshall, came in 2002 with Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart and also starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah. It was nominated for 13 Oscars and won six Academy Awards, including best picture, in 2003.