A&E's DUCK DYNASTY Family to Hunt the Vegas Strip in New Musical

The New York Times writes that DUCK DYNASTY's Robertson family will be portrayed on the Las Vegas stage in a new, 90-minute production THE DUCK COMMANDER FAMILY MUSICAL. The show is eyeing a February 2015 opening at the Rio Hotel and Casino and features score by composer Steven Morris, book by Asa Somers and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies).

The project is already drawing criticism from many liberal Broadway producers who are against family head Phil Robertson's outspoken views against homosexuality.

Michael David, who is producing the show, told the Times: "The show will end up challenging the views and assumptions of people across the political spectrum, more than most theater does." He continued, "The Robertsons are so unusual, their story so juicy, and theater shouldn't be limited to telling stories about people you resemble or revere."

Willie Robertson, who wrote the 2012 book the musical is based on, said: "We've enjoyed the process of making a musical alongside the team who is interested in telling the Robertson family story from an outside perspective,"

The musical will feature real footage of the Robertson family duck hunting, as well as true-to-life anecdotes and 14 songs, ranging from country to show tunes.

Morris, one of the composers for the show, said, "I think the expectation is that it'll be all chicken-pickin' stuff and banjos, but what we're trying to do is pull out as much heart, humor and sincerity as we can to keep people surprised."

About A&E's DUCK DYNASTY: A&E Network introduces the Robertsons, a Louisiana bayou family living the American dream as they operate a thriving business while staying true to their family values and lifestyle. Ask anyone in Louisiana and they'll tell you that the bayou state's favorite first family doesn't live in the governor's mansion but in the backwoods, where the Robertsons' rags-to-riches story is still unfolding. Ahomegrown mom-and-pop operation, Duck Commander has become a sporting empire by fabricating top-of-the-line duck calls and decoys out of salvaged swamp wood. This newly minted multimillionaire family is kept in line by business-savvy Willie, who runs Duck Commander with the help of his brother Jase, their respective wives Korie and Missy, patriarch and founder of the company, Phil, and UNCLE Si. Together they run a booming business that employs half their neighborhood, but at the end of the day, you can find the whole family around matriarch Miss Kay's dinner table. Each episode brings a new set of challenges, met with a special brand of Southern know-how and a down-home sense of humor.