It's 1980, and three strangers arrive in New York City to headline the Apollo Theatre. That's the premise of From My Hometown, a new musical that is scheduled to open this fall at a New York theatre-to-be-announced.

Subtitled "A Classic R&B Musical Fantasy," the production will feature 36 rhythm-and-blues classics as well as 13 original songs by Lee Summers, Ty Stephens and Will Barrow. Conceived by Summers with a book by Summers, Stephens and Herbert Rawlings, From My Hometown will feature direction by Kevin Ramsey with choreography by Ramsey and Leslie Dockery. Jo Lynn Burks will provide vocal arrangements and will also serve as the show's musical director. No casting has yet been announced.

From My Hometown had its world premiere at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 1988. Among the classic R&B hits included in the musical are "Dock of the Bay," "Try a Little Tenderness," "Land of a Thousand Dances," "Have You Seen Her?," "Higher and Higher," "Love & Happiness," "Hold On I'm Comin'," and "Tobacco Road."

Ben Blake and Lee Summers will produce the New York premiere.

—By Andrew Gans