Magic Johnson Set for MAGIC/BIRD Talkback, 4/13

Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, the producers of the new Broadway play MAGIC/BIRD, announced today that Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson will hold a talkback for ticketholders following the 2pm matinee performance at the Longacre Theater (220 West 48th Street) on Friday April, 13th.

Johnson, one of the two key subjects (along with fellow Hall of Famer Larry Bird) of the six person original play, will speak with the audience and give his thoughts on the Broadway event. MAGIC/BIRD, currently in previews, will officially open with a 7 p.m. performance on Wednesday April 11th. The Friday April 13th matinee has been added to the schedule in order to accommodate the demand the show has seen from families, many of whom will be off for the spring break that week.

"We are very excited to be able to have Magic join us for this talkback following the matinee performance on Friday April 13th," the producers said. "We have seen already in previews that this story is one for all ages, and we think hosting a special matinee that Friday, when many young people are off from school, will give parents a chance to bring their kids to experience the play and then hear Earvin himself talk, in once in a lifetime opportunity."

Tickets for the matinee performance on April 13th at 2pm are open for sale to the general public at Telecharge.com or 212-239-6200. For groups of ten or more call 212-554-3430.

The talkback with Magic Johnson is the first in what will be a series of special nights throughout the run of the show. Additionally, in the next few weeks, a host of retired NBA stars will be on hand for "Legends of Basketball Night" on April 19th, and the United States Olympic Committee will host a special "Olympic Athlete Night" on April 17th. Other special events will be announced in the coming weeks.

MAGIC/BIRD, directed by Tony Nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) will reunite with Lombardi playwright, Oscar Winner and Emmy Nominee, Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new American Play chronicling the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Joining actors Kevin Daniels as Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Tug Coker as Larry Bird, are Deirdre O'Connell as Georgia Bird/Shelly/Patricia Moore, Peter Scolari as Red Auerbach/Jerry Buss/Pat Riley, Rob Ray Manning Jr. as Michael Cooper/Henry Alvarado/Frank, and Francois Battiste as Jon Lennox/Ron Baxter/Willy. The creative team is David Korins (Set), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Paul Tazwell (Costumes), Nevin Steinbert (Sound) and Jeff Sugg (Projections), who weaves historic NBA film footage throughout the play.

At the heart of one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history, two of the greatest basketball players of all-time battled for three championships, bragging rights, and the future of their sport in the 1980's. Johnson and Bird electrified the nation on the court, reinvigorated the NBA, and turned their rivalry into one of the greatest and most famous friendships in professional sports.

This is the second original project undertaken by Kirmser and Ponturo. Together they share a common vision of bringing new, original plays to a wide, diverse audience of theatergoers, initially combining the drama of sports and entertainment through Kirmser Ponturo Group. Lombardi and now MAGIC/BIRD are the first two products of that vision.

The Longacre Theatre was built in 1913 by H. H. Frazee, a Producer/Manager who was the owner of the Boston Red Sox's and the individual who sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. He later sold the theater to The Shuberts in 1919.

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