HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME Producer Raising $5M to Keep Show Open

Broadway's Holler If Ya Hear Me opened to mixed reviews last month, but lead producer Eric L. Gold won't let that affect the show's open-ended run at the Palace Theatre. He recently told Variety that he hopes to raise another $5 million to keep the new musical open until ticket sales improve.

When asked how long the show will remain, Gold told Variety: "It's week to week right now. It can't tell you if it'll be two weeks or two months. It's an expensive game, and I'm the guy carrying the load financially. I made a rookie mistake by underestimating how much capital was necessary, but I'm tenacious."

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Written by Todd Kreidler and directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, Holler If Ya Hear Me is now playing at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street).

HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the world insideTupac Shakur's music and lyrics, blazes to life in a non-biographical story about friendship, family, revenge, change and hope. Inner city lives struggle for peace against the daily challenges they face in this entertaining and original musical. Through the poetry of one of the 20th century's most influential and culturally prominent voices, we are given a window into realities of the streets still relevant today. The musical features over 20 songs including "Holler If Ya Hear Me," "California Love," "I Get Around," "Thugz Mansion," "Keep Ya Head Up," "Dear Mama," "Me Against the World," "Unconditional Love" and "Hail Mary."

HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME stars award-winning slam poet, actor, singer, musician Saul Williams(Slam) as John, Christopher Jackson (After Midnight) as Vertus, Saycon Sengbloh (Motown The Musical, Fela!) as Corinne, Ben Thompson (Matilda) as Griffy, John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf - Tony nomination) as Street Preacher,Joshua Boone (Brownsville Song [b side for Tray] at Actors Theatre of Louisville) as Darius, Dyllon Burnside ("Prison Break") as Anthony, Jahi Kearse (Baby It's You) and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Jelly's Last Jam, Caroline or Change, Play On!) as Mrs. Weston.

The cast also features Tracee Beazer (Memphis), Afi Bijou (Fela!), Mel Charlot (Three-time World Hip Hop Champion), Carrie Compere (Shrek National Tour), Otis Cotton, Ryan Davis (danced for Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj),Brandon Gill (Neighbors at The Public), Ari Groover (Bare Off-Broadway), F. Michael Haynie (Wicked), Jared Joseph(Book of Mormon National Tour), Muata Langley (freestyle Krump performer), Candace Maxwell, Valentine Norton("American Idol"), Christina Sajous (Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark), Charlene "Chi Chi" Smith, Jaime Lincoln Smith(Ruined Off-Broadway), Donald Webber, Jr. (Motown The Musical) and Joaquina Kalukango (Godspell).

Joining director Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun [2004 and Tony Award in 2014], Fences [2010], The Mountaintop) and author Todd Kreidler (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and direction of How I Learned What I Learned) on the creative team, are Tony Award winning choreographer Wayne Cilento (Wicked, The Who's Tommy, How to Succeed...[1995], AIDA, Sweet Charity [2004]), and musical supervisor Daryl Waters (Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk, The Color Purple, Memphis).