FELA! Soon To Perform In Nigeria?

Fela! may soon be headed to Nigeria, according to the New York Times. The move was originally reported in June, when it was announced that FELA! has been asked by officials at the Nigerian Ministry of Culture to perform in Nigeria in October.

"We're in the process of trying to make arrangements to do so," Fela! lead producer Stephen Hendel said. "No Broadway show has ever been to Nigeria in this fashion. It's premature to announce anything, but it's our hope to bring the show there soon."

"Mr. Hendel said he was also organizing an international tour of the show that is expected to start this summer, and that he was hoping to bring it "to some places in the world where no Broadway musical has ever been." He said it was premature to name those cities or countries, nothing that discussions were still underway."

After the June announcement, choreographer Bill T. Jones was finding difficulty scheduling the trip. The proposed performance was only three weeks before FELA! opened in the West End: "We have been invited to do a performance there (in Nigeria) by Fela's daughter and the Ministry of Culture there. It's a little bit of a problem because it happens before we open at the National Theatre in London. The National Theatre is very supportive of it, but it's just three weeks before the London (launch). But we do want to be there," Jones said.

A FELA! performance would be part of the celebration for the country's 50 years of independence.

On Thursday, January 13, audiences around the world will have the opportunity to see the recently opened Royal National Theater acclaimed production of Fela! on the big screen. Fela!, with the original Broadway star Sahr Ngaujah in the title-role, will be filmed live and broadcast via satellite to over 300 movie theaters around the world through the National Theater's successful NT Live series. An international tour of Fela! is currently being booked by Margaret Selby of CAMI Spectrum and Gary McAvay of CAMI Theatricals and will kick off early next year in Europe. Dates and markets to be announced shortly.

Fela!, the most recent Broadway show honored by a visit from First Lady Michelle Obama, is directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones. Kevin Mambo (Emmy Award-winning star of "Guiding Light" and "One Life to Live") plays the title character at alternate performances, while the world renowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of AaRon Johnson, perform Kuti's rousing music live onstage. Fela! was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel.

Fela!, the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation, is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Kuti's captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award-winner Bill T. Jones. Inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, Kuti defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.