Hot Feet Announced for April 2006 Broadway Bow

TransAmerica, Rudy Durand in association with Kalimba Entertainment, Inc. to present the World Premiere of the new dance musical Hot Feet conceived by Maurice Hines. The book is written by Heru Ptah, featuring music and lyrics by Earth, Wind and Fire founder Maurice White and will be directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines. Hot Feet will have its pre-Broadway run at DC's National Theatre on March 18 through April 9, 2005. It will begin its Broadway previews on April 15, opening night on Sunday, April 30, 2006 (theatre tba).

Mr. White has written original music and lyrics, along with his past hits, "Shining Star," "September," "Boogie Wonderland" and "After the Love Has Gone." Maurice Hines comments "The music of Maurice White inspires me. It's an honor for me to be collaborating with him." White says "Working with Maurice Hines has been a blast. He makes my music and lyrics come alive in ways I never would have imagined."

Ptah's book, White's music and Hines direction and choreography bring out the emotion, sensitivity and the heart of Hot Feet. Together they weave a Faustian tale about a beautiful young dancer - Kalimba, whose whole life's dreams and ambition are to be a Broadway 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 dancer's fate.

The Hot Feet cast will be announced shortly and will feature sets by Jim Noone, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lights by Clifton Taylor and sound by ACME Sound Partners.

Maurice Hines (direction and choreography) is a star of stage, screen and television. He began his acclaimed career at the age of five. He and his brother were soon appearing on Broadway and touring as the opening act for such headliners as Lionel Hampton and Gypsy Rose Lee. Their father then joined the act and shortly thereafter, "Hines, Hines & Dad" was performing to rave reviews in New York, Las Vegas and Europe. The group also appeared on many television shows including "The Pearl Bailey Show," "Hollywood Palace," and 35 appearance on "The Tonight Show." Mr. Hines has starred in as Nathan Detroit in the National Touring Company of Guys and Dolls. Mr. Hines created the hit Broadway musical Eubie!; starred in Bring Back Birdie (with Chita Rivera) and Sophisticated Ladies; conceived, directed and choreographed the musical Uptown… It's Hot! (Tony Award nomination as Best Actor in a Musical); co-directed and choreographed the National Tour of the musical Satchmo; directed, choreographed and starred in the National Tour of the musical Harlem Suite; and starred in the National Tour of the musical Jelly's Last Jam. Internationally, Mr. Hines has had the pleasure of directing and choreographing the musicals Havana Night in Cuba and an all Latin version of The Red Shoes in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He has also created new shows such as Broadway Soul Jam. He made his film debut in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Cotton Club? and is credited with directing and choreographing several music videos, including Quincy Jones' "I'll be Good To You." Mr. Hines has directed The Radio City Spectacular (the first African-American director for Radio City Music Hall). Mr. Hines is currently in pre-production for the stage and film version of Yo Alice, the new urban hip-hop fantasy which he conceived and will direct and choreograph. His critically acclaimed jazz album, "Maurice," is on the Arbors label.

Maurice White (music and lyrics), founder and creator of supergroup Earth, Wind and Fire, is a performer, songwriter, producer, musician, record label owner and recording studio chief. Born in Memphis, Mr. White grew up in Chicago and trained at the prestigious Chicago Conservatory of Music. His first professional experience was as staff drummer at Chess Records where he kept the beat for such giants as Etta James, Willie Dixon and Ramsey Lewis. The early '70s saw the birth of Maurice's vision: a band that combined spirituality and stunning performances; a band that mixed African rhythms with gospel, jazz, funk and rock. Maurice White named his band Earth, Wind and Fire and the rest is history. Classic hits like "Shining Star," "September," "Boogie Wonderland," "After The Love Has Gone," "Can't Hide Love," "Sing A Song," "Fantasy," and many, many more. Six Grammy awards, Four American Music Awards and over 50 gold and platinum singles, albums and DVDs represent just some of the accolades the band has received as well as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mr. White has produced such luminaries as Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond and Jennifer Holliday. Currently he is producing his own solo record for Concord Records that will include special guests Chaka Khan, the Roots, D'Angelo amongst others and is due out in 2006.

Heru Ptah (book) MTV Books writer found underground fame when he self published his novel, A Hip Hop Story selling thousands on NYC subways. He was a member of the Nuyorican Poets Café Slam Team who has appeared on MTV's "DFX", HBO's "Def Jam", BET and Hot97. He has performed at The World Famous Apollo Theatre across North America (US & Canada), Europe and the Caribbean.

TRANSAMERICA The companies of Transamerica offer a vast array of innovative financial services and products with a common purpose. Regardless of the distribution method, its mission is to help individuals, families, and businesses build, protect, and preserve their hard-earned assets. They are members of the AEGON Insurance Group, one of the top 50 largest public financial companies in the world ranked by assets. And the AEGON USA group of companies is ranked fifth in admitted assets in the U.S. The AEGON Group is a multinational insurance organization headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and is one of the world's leading life insurance and financial services organizations.

Rudy Durand is a director, writer, music/film/theatre producer commercials credits include: Chanel, Evian Water, Revlon, Max Factor, Calvin Klein, Haines, L'eggs, Jordache. Executive Produced: Virgin and the Gypsy. Produced: Cactus in the Snow. Writer/Producer/Director of the movie Tilt starring a young Brooke Shields. Music Producer for Capitol Records, ABC Records, MCA Records, 20th Century Records. Writer: Two is One (Warner Bros./ Canton Co.); Younger (Canton Co.); Palace of Perjury; According to Reliable Sources; Cargo Cops; The County; Sacred Borders; A State of Mind (all for Emotion Pictures); A Taste of Life. Theater credits include associate producer for Like Jazz, and producer of Brooklyn, and the upcoming Broadway bound musicals In The Pocket, Flashdance and Van Gogh: The Musical.

Kalimba Entertainment, Inc. was founded by Earth, Wind & Fire creator, Maurice White along with Herb Trawick and Art Macnow and is a home for projects targeted outside of Earth, Wind & Fire. Along with the Broadway musical Hot Feet, upcoming projects include producing a news talk show, overseeing the making of two albums for Maurice White including Interpretations" and the Hot Feet cast album, the Maurice White autobiography, and managing Mirrah from the hit TV show "R U That Girl."

Hot Feet
National Theatre, Washington DC