3 Faces Of Roxie Hart: The Broadway Star, The 1920s Murderess, And The Modern OnlyFans Sensation

The name Roxie Hart carries a heavy legacy of ambition, scandal, and theatrical celebrity, a narrative that continues to evolve even today, December 11, 2025. While most people instantly recognize her as the iconic, fame-hungry murderess from the musical Chicago, the name is currently associated with three very different figures: the fictional character, the real-life woman who inspired her, and a new generation of performers and content creators.

The latest and freshest update comes from the world of theater, where a new star is preparing to take on the coveted role. However, to truly understand the character's enduring appeal, one must first look back at the scandalous 1920s Chicago murder case that started it all, and acknowledge the surprising modern entities who have adopted the provocative name.

Roxie Hart's Comprehensive Biography: Fictional, Historical, and New

The entity known as Roxie Hart is a complex tapestry woven from a historical crime, a newspaper reporter's satire, and decades of theatrical reinvention. The core story centers on a seemingly innocent woman who commits a sensational murder and then manipulates the media and the legal system to achieve celebrity status.

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• Fictional Character: Roxanne "Roxie" Hart (The Musical/Play)
  • Debut: 1926 play Chicago, or Play Ball by Maurine Dallas Watkins.
  • Occupation: Aspiring jazz singer and dancer in 1920s Chicago.
  • Crime: Murders her lover, Harry Kalstedt, after he threatens to leave her.
  • Motive: Fame and celebrity. Roxie dreams of becoming "a celebrity, that means somebody everyone knows."
  • Key Relationships: Married to the meek Amos Hart ("Mister Cellophane"); Rival to Velma Kelly; Client of the slick lawyer Billy Flynn.
• Historical Inspiration: Beulah May Annan (The Real Roxie)
  • Born: November 18, 1899, in Kentucky.
  • Died: March 10, 1928, from tuberculosis.
  • Crime (1924): Shot her lover, Harry Kalstedt, in her Chicago apartment.
  • Trial Strategy: Initially claimed Kalstedt was reaching for a gun; later, she was advised to claim she was pregnant to garner public sympathy, a key element adopted by the fictional Roxie Hart.
  • Outcome: Acquitted of murder in May 1924.
• Latest Broadway Star: Whitney Leavitt (The 2026 Roxie)
  • Occupation: Reality-TV star, known for Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
  • Broadway Debut: Set for February 2, 2026.
  • Role: Roxie Hart in the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago.
  • Run: A six-week limited engagement at the Ambassador Theatre.

The Scandalous True Story of Beulah Annan and the 1924 Murder Trial

The original Roxie Hart was Beulah Annan, a woman whose sensational murder trial in 1924 captivated the city of Chicago and inspired the reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins to write the play that would eventually become the famous musical.

Annan, a 23-year-old married woman, was accused of shooting her lover, Harry Kalstedt, on April 3, 1924. Following the shooting, Annan reportedly played a phonograph record of a foxtrot for hours before calling her husband, Albert Annan, to confess.

The press immediately sensationalized the case, with Annan quickly earning the title of the "most beautiful slayer" on "Murderess Row." The fictional character's use of the media to her advantage is a direct reflection of Annan's real-life strategy. Annan's lawyer, W. W. O'Brien, masterfully manipulated public opinion, a tactic mirrored by the character Billy Flynn.

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In a bizarre twist of fate, Annan was tried almost simultaneously with another murderess, Belva Gaertner, who inspired the character Velma Kelly. Both women were ultimately acquitted of murder, largely due to the media circus and the public's fascination with their cases.

From Broadway's New Star to the Digital Content Creator

The enduring legacy of Roxie Hart is her ability to embody the hunger for fame, a theme that remains powerfully relevant in the 21st century. This is best illustrated by the two most recent figures to bear the name: a reality TV star making her theatrical debut and a digital content creator.

Whitney Leavitt: The New Face of Broadway's Roxie Hart

In a move that perfectly echoes the fictional Roxie's own journey from obscurity to celebrity, reality television personality Whitney Leavitt has been cast in the role for a limited run in 2026. Leavitt, known for her appearance on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, will make her Broadway debut as the cunning murderess from February 2 to March 15, 2026.

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This casting choice is a brilliant meta-commentary on the musical's central theme: that celebrity status, regardless of its origin, can open doors to high art. Leavitt's background as a reality TV star and her prior experience as a Dancing With the Stars semi-finalist align perfectly with Roxie's desperate ambition to be a star at any cost, making her a fitting, modern-day embodiment of the character's spirit.

The Modern Digital Roxie: Roxie Hart on OnlyFans

The name "Roxie Hart" has also been adopted by individuals in the digital sphere, reflecting the character's association with glamour and provocative self-promotion. A prominent example is the adult content creator who operates under the handle @roxiehartsm on platforms like OnlyFans and Fansly.

This modern iteration of the name, often associated with seductive lingerie and explicit content, demonstrates how the moniker continues to be linked to a public, often scandalous, persona. The digital content creator, who has a significant presence on various social media platforms, uses the name to cultivate a brand based on personal exhibition and a high-profile lifestyle, drawing a surprising parallel to the "jazz flapper" image that the original Beulah Annan and the fictional Roxie Hart projected in the 1920s.

The Enduring Topical Authority of the Roxie Hart Persona

The enduring power of Roxie Hart lies in her ability to transcend her original context. She is not just a character in a musical; she is an archetype of the American obsession with fame. The story, originally written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, was a satire of the media's willingness to turn criminals into celebrities, a concept that feels more relevant than ever in the age of reality television and social media fame. The casting of a reality star like Whitney Leavitt reinforces this topical authority, proving that the path from tabloid scandal to legitimate stardom is a continuous cycle.

Whether it is the historical Beulah Annan manipulating a jury, the fictional Roxie Hart singing "Roxie," or the modern-day content creator building a brand, the name Roxie Hart remains synonymous with a cunning, ambitious, and unapologetically self-serving pursuit of the spotlight. This complex legacy ensures that the story of the "most beautiful slayer" will continue to be told on Broadway and beyond for years to come.