A lack of funding means well-known entertainer Tina Cross will no longer be part of Rotorua's Chicago production.
The award-winning Cross, whose entertainment career spans more than 30 years, was to have starred as Mama Morton in the Rotorua Musical Theatre show opening on April 19.
However, after bad newson the sponsor front director Richard Marshall this week made the tough decision they could not afford to keep Cross in the show.
"On Wednesday, I had to make the call to let her go," said Mr Marshall.
"She was getting other offers of work and it was not fair to keep putting her off."
Mr Marshall said Cross had already travelled to a few rehearsals in Rotorua.
"I was very embarrassed to explain it to her but she was great and said these things happen."
He said it would have been wonderful to have had the experienced Cross involved. While the rest of the cast were disappointed they understood the situation, he said.
Understudy Tia Tuuta had stepped into the role and would do a "superb job", said Mr Marshall.
"It will still be a fantastic show with great music and dancing," he said.
He said local sponsors were still needed, half joking if someone came through with funding in the next 24 hours it might not be too late to get Cross back on board.
Chicago, one of the longest running Broadway shows, tells the story of ambitious chorus girl Roxie Hart who is in prison for murdering her lover and trying to pin it on her husband Amos.
She meets Velma Kelly, a headline star and also a murderess. The two team up to form an unusual nightclub act, which they hope will keep them in the public eye, enlisting the help of sleazy lawyer Billy Flynn.
Tickets go on sale on Monday from the Ticketmaster box office inside the Rotorua Convention Centre or online at www.ticketmaster.co.nz.
