Lansbury only agreed to sign up for the production, which will open in December 2009, if producers lined up a big star to play her daughter in the show, according to the New York Post.
Zeta-Jones agreed to take on Glynis Johns' beloved role of Desiree in the musical, which features hits like Send in the Clowns and Every Day a Little Death.
The Welsh actress started out as a star on London's West End and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in movie musical Chicago.
