MAGIC/BIRD Offers $35 Balcony Seats for Today's Matinee, Featuring Talkback With Magic Johnson

Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson will hold a talkback for ticketholders following the 2pm matinee performance today at the intimate 900 seat Longacre Theater (220 West 48th Street), the second show following Wednesday's star-studded openinG. Johnson, one of the two key subjects (along with fellow Hall of Famer Larry Bird) of the six person original play, will speak with the audience today and give his thoughts.

The recently added performance and talk back with Magic Johnson has a number of $35.00 balcony seats in the intimate Longacre Theater available for this one-time event. For Tickets go to the box office at 220 West 48th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, call Telecharge at 212 229 6200 or go to Telecharge.com.

The talkback with Magic Johnson is the first in what will be a series of special nights throughout the run of the show. Additionally, in the next few weeks, a host of retired NBA stars will be on hand for "Legends of Basketball Night" on April 19th, and the United States Olympic Committee will host a special "Olympic Athlete Night" on April 17th.  Other special events will be announced in the coming weeks.

MAGIC/BIRD, about the stunning rivalry and friendship of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird is directed by Tony Nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) and reunites Lombardi playwright, 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. Joining actors Kevin Daniels as Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Tug Coker as Larry Bird, are Deirdre O'Connell as Georgia Bird/Shelly/Patricia Moore, Peter Scolari as Red Auerbach/Jerry Buss/Pat Riley, Rob Ray Manning Jr. as Michael Cooper/Henry Alvarado/Frank, and Francois Battiste as Jon Lennox/Ron Baxter/Willy. The creative team is David Korins (Set), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Paul Tazwell (Costumes), Nevin Steinbert (Sound) and Jeff Sugg (Projections), who weaves historic NBA film footage throughout the play. 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.

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.