Earth, Wind & Fire Musical Hot Feet Scurries to D.C. Before Bway Opening in April
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 25, 2006
Presented by New YorkTransAmerica and produced by Rudy Durand in association with Kalimba Entertainment, Inc., the show will have its world premiere at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre, where it will begin previews on March 21st, open on March 27th and run through April 9th. It will then head to the Hilton Theatre (213 W. 42nd Street) for Broadway previews beginning April 15th. It will open on Sunday, April 30th.
Hot Feet will feature music and lyrics by seven-time Grammy winner and Earth, Wind & Fire founder White and a book by MTV scribe Heru Ptah (the novel A Hip Hop Story, Nuyorican Poets Café Slam Team). In addition to his Earth, Wind and Fire hits such as "Shining Star," "September," "Boogie Wonderland" and "After the Love Has Gone," the show will feature original songs by White.
"Ptah's book, White's music and Hine's direction and choreography bring out the emotion, sensitivity and the heart of Hot Feet. Together they weave a Faustian tale about a beautiful young girl named Kalimba, who dreams of becoming a dancer. Kalimba is cajoled to dance with a pair of magical and enchanted red shoes, when she puts them on they begin to take control of the talented dancers fate," according to press notes. The show is based on The Red Shoes, a Han Christian Andersen tale that later became a famous film and a short-lived Jule Styne musical.
The Hot Feet cast will be announced soon; the show will feature sets by James Noone, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Clifton Taylor and sound by Acme Sound Partners. The show will be produced by Rudy Durand.
Hines, the brother of the late Gregory Hines and son of Maurice Hines, Sr., received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Uptown...It's Hot!, which he conceived, directed and choreographed. He has also appeared in Bring Back Birdie, Sophisticated Ladies, Eubie! and The Girl in Pink Tights--his Broadway debut at the age of 5. He has also made numerous TV appearances and is a well-regarded director/choreographer of music videos and film.
The box office of The National Theatre, which is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, will open on January 31st. For tickets, call Telecharge: (800) 447-7400 or www.telecharge.com. Group sales are available by calling (202) 628-6166; for information, call (202) 628-6161. Tickets to the Broadway run are also available at Telecharge (212) 239- 6180. Visit www.HotFeetTheMusical.com for more information.
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