STAGE TUBE: Magic Johnson, Larry Bird Appear on David Letterman

NBA Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Larry Bird talked about their storied basketball rivalry and their unique friendship off the court on last night's LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN. Their appearance coincided with the Opening Night of the new Broadway show MAGIC/BIRD. 

MAGIC/BIRD, directed by Tony Nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights), 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.

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.

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.

View a clip from Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's appearance on DAVID LETTERMAN below!