Broadway's MAGIC BIRD Finds Its 'Magic'; Kevin Daniels Leads Cast

MAGIC BIRD has found its "Magic". Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo report that the most widely asked question throughout the MAGIC BIRD process has been who is going to play Magic Johnson. On December 9th while the basketball fan learned the details of the newly announced NBA Season, in walked actor Kevin Daniels to the Magic Bird audition room.

The producers announced today the title role of Hall of Fame Basketball Player and Lakers Legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson will be played by actor Kevin Daniels. Kevin played high school basketball before turning his sights to acting which brought him to the prestigious Julliard School, NYC at the age of 17. After graduation Kevin made his Broadway debut at Lincoln Center, NYC in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Other stage roles include "Suge Knight" opposite Anthony Mackie in Up Against the Wind (New York Theater Workshop, NYC) and the role of DR. Martin Luther King Jr. in the staged radio play of RFK: Journey to Justice (LA Theatre Works, CA). On the big screen Kevin played Firefighter "Don Miller" in Touchstone Pictures Ladder 49 and starred in And Then Came Love with Vanessa Williams. Kevin can currently be seen in a reoccurring role on the ABC hit comedy MODERN FAMILY. His other TV credits include guest stars on NBC's CHUCK and LAW & ORDER, and ABC's BROTHERS & SISTERS. Kevin resides in LA and is a Lakers fan.

"I am honored to be playing Earvin "Magic" Johnson and am excited to dig in and deliver," says Kevin Daniels.

Magic says, "Kevin Daniels is a great choice to play me and I look forward to his electric performance on the stage."

Daniels is the second actor to be announced in the six person cast. Two weeks ago it was announced that actor Tug Coker (A Midsummer Night's Dream, ART) will co-star in the play as Larry Bird. The remainder of the cast will be announced in the very near future.

MAGIC BIRD, directed by Tony Nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) will reunite with Lombardi playwright and Oscar Winner and Emmy Nominee, Eric Simonson on MAGIC BIRD., a new American Play chronicling the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, Basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The creative team is David Korins (Set), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Paul Tazwell (Costumes), Nevin Steinberg (Sound) and Wendall K. Harrington (Projections), who will weave historic NBA film footage throughout the play.

At the heart of one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history, two of the greatest basketball players of all-time battled for three championships, bragging rights, and the future of their sport in the 1980's. Johnson and Bird electrified the nation on the court, reinvigorated the NBA, and turned their rivalry into one of the greatest and most famous friendships in professional sports. The play, with a six actor cast, will premiere at a Broadway Theater TBA in Spring 2012.

This is the second original project undertaken by Kirmser and Ponturo. Together they share a common vision of bringing new, original plays to a wide, diverse audience of theatergoers, initially combining the drama of sports and entertainment through Kirmser Ponturo Group. Lombardi and now MAGIC BIRD are the first two products of that vision.

For more information, visit www.magicbirdbroadway.com.