FIRST WIVES CLUB Maestro Dozier Talks Upcoming Show

Lamont Dozier, part of the famous songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland who is writing the score for the Broadway-bound musical FIRST WIVES CLUB, recently sat down with Billboard to talk about Motown's 50th Anniversary and the upcoming FIRST WIVES CLUB which will premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego July through August 23, 2009. 

Having co-written an indelible chapter in music history, Lamont Dozier -- one-third of Motown's storied songwriting/production trio Holland-Dozier-Holland -- isn't ready to relax just yet. Beyond reuniting with Brian and Eddie Holland after 30 years to score the Broadway-bound musical incarnation of the 1996 film 'The First Wives Club,' Dozier sits piano-deep in various other ventures.

Those projects include collaborating with hip-hop star Kanye West, working with several newly signed singer-songwriters and writing a book. This year he also became the first Artist in Residence professor at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.

As celebrations rev up in honor of the Motown label's 50th anniversary, Dozier sat down to chat with Billboard about his past, present and future.

Regarding the 'The First Wives Club' he reveals, "All the music is done. The guys and I wrote 30 songs and got it down to 22 for the show. Rupert Holmes wrote the book and Francesca Zambello, who did Broadway's The Little Mermaid, is directing. Producers Paul Lambert and Jonas Neilson plan to preview the show at San Diego's Old Globe theater in July..."

To read the entire interview click here.

Based on the best-selling novel and Hollywood blockbuster of the same name, FIRST WIVES CLUB features a book by Tony winner Rupert Holmes (Curtains!, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Say Goodnight Gracie). The production will be directed by award winning opera and theatrical director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theatre, Rebecca at the Vienna Raimund Theatre and Porgy and Bess and the Wagner Ring Cycle at the San Francisco Opera).

The popular 1996 Paramount film The First Wives Club - about three divorced women who seek revenge on their former husbands - was based on Olivia Goldsmith's novel and featured a screenplay by Robert Harling. The motion picture grossed over $130 million and boasted a star-studded cast comprising Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton.

The musical will be produced on Broadway by Paul Lambert and Jonas Neilson, with a theater and dates to be announced. Auditions for the leading roles have begun here in New York City are ongoing at present.

Tickets to First Wives Club-The Musical are currently available by subscription by contacting the Globe Box Office at (619) 23-GLOBE or online at www.TheOldGlobe.Org