Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Will Tour Through May 2013; Itinerary Announced

By Michael Gioia
February 14, 2013

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, Mike Tyson's one-man show chronicling the ups and downs of his life and career as a champion heavyweight boxer that was seen on Broadway in summer 2012, kicked off a ten-week national tour Feb. 13 at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis. The tour will play through May 2013. 

"After a successful run at the MGM in Las Vegas and on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre with Spike Lee, I'm excited to take Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth on tour and share it with my fans across the country," said Tyson in a statement. "Undisputed Truth is my story — I'm giving my all. I'm proud to take the show nationwide, and it's a privilege to continue working with The Nederlander Organization." 

Helmed by Academy Award nominee Spike Lee ("Do the Right Thing," "Malcolm X"), who made his Broadway directorial debut with Undisputed Truth, the three-month tour will visit over 36 cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and Washington D.C.

The autobiographical work, presented by producer James L. Nederlander, was written by the Brooklyn-born boxer's wife, Kiki Tyson, and Randy Johnson. Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth premiered at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theater in Las Vegas under Johnson's direction last March.

The work began Broadway previews July 31, 2012, and officially opened Aug. 2 for a run through Aug. 12 at the Longacre Theatre. 

"I will just be telling [my] story," Tyson previously told Playbill.com. "People have said the story mesmerizes." When asked if any aspect of his life was off limits, the former boxing champ said, "If anything comes across kind of fake, [you'll] see it right away. To avoid that, [I'm] putting everything on the table. But it's not all good stuff! It's going to be a rollercoaster of emotions."

Director Lee added, "Human beings want to hear stories. Whether it's a play, a documentary…a song, a musical, a novel or a movie, we love great stories, and we love great storytellers. And, with Mike Tyson on the stage, you are going to hear a great American story… Mike's a great storyteller."

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth is executive-produced by Mike Tyson, Kiki Tyson and Adam Steck.

The evening promises "a rare, personal look inside the life and mind of one of the most feared men ever to wear the heavyweight crown... This riveting one-man show goes beyond the headlines, behind the scenes and between the lines to deliver a must-see theatrical knockout."

The Broadway creative team included scenic designer Timothy R. Mackabee, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Raymond Schilke, projection designer Erik Pearson, assistant set designer Benson Knight, assistant sound designer Kristyn R. Smith, assistant projection designer Jackson Gallagher, production stage manager Gwendolyn M. Gilliam, technical supervisor Fred Gallo and dramaturg and voice coach de'Adre Aziza.

Visit TysonOnTour.com.

A list of tour dates follows: 

Feb. 15-16 at the Palace Theatre in Chicago
Feb. 19 at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie 
Feb. 20 at the Bayou Music Center in Houston
Feb. 23 at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix
Feb. 28-March 2 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco
March 5 at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego
March 6 at The Grove at Anaheim in Anaheim
March 8-10 at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles 
March 13 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland
March 14 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle 
March 16 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, Canada
March 19 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark
March 20-21at the Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagra Falls 
March 23 at The Louisville Palace in Louisville
Mach 24 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati
April 4 at the Midland Theater in Kansas City 
April 5 at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis
April 6 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit
April 16 at the Arsht Center in Miami
April 17 at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater
April 19 at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi
April 20 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta 
April 21 at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte
April 23 at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham
April 26-27 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. 
April 28 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City
May 1 at the Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre
May 2 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia 
May 4 at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston
May 5 at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury in Westbury