NT Live to Broadcast Fela! in Advance of U.S. and International Tour | Playbill

Related Articles
News NT Live to Broadcast Fela! in Advance of U.S. and International Tour The Tony Award-nominated Afrobeat musical Fela!, which tells the story of late Nigerian musician and political figure Fela Anikulapo Kuti, will be broadcast live in cinemas as part of NT Live at London's National Theatre.

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/f7593b1a21115230cfec9723a63c17e3-felbway200.jpg
Fela! star Sahr Ngaujah Photo by Monique Carboni

Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, Fela! is slated to begin performances at the National Nov. 6. NT Live will broadcast the production in January 2011. The initiative regularly presents live performances in some 300 cinemas around the world.

Fela! producers are hoping that the NT Live broadcast will generate interest in the musical for a planned international tour, and a U.S. national tour, which is slated to launch in fall 2011. Fela! is currently booked for a 12-week engagement at the National. Best Actor Tony nominee Sahr Ngaujah will reprise his performance in the title role for London audiences.

Tony-winning Spring Awakening choreographer Bill T. Jones directs and choreographs the production that features a book by Jones and Jim Lewis and utilizes Anikulapo-Kuti's own music. Lewis, a Tony nominee for Chronicle of a Death Foretold, also penned additional lyrics. The musical was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel.

Fela! earned Tony nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones), Best Actor (Nguajah), Best Featured Actress (Lillias White), Best Choreography (Jones), Best Direction (Jones), Best Orchestrations (Aaron Johnson), Best Scenic Design (Marina Draghici), Best Costume Design (Marina Draghici), Best Lighting Design (Robert Wierzel) and Best Sound Design (Robert Kaplowitz).

The musical opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Nov. 23, 2009, after an acclaimed run Off-Broadway in 2008 at 37 Arts. Visit FelaonBroadway.

*

In Fela!, according to production notes, "audiences are welcomed into the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Using his pioneering music (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies), [the musical] explores Kuti's controversial life as artist, political activist and revolutionary musician."

The Broadway design team includes scenic and costume designer Marina Draghici, lighting designer Rob Wierzel, sound designer Rob Kaplowitz and projection designer Peter Nigrini. Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean will provide musical arrangements.

Fela! is produced by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Knitting Factory Entertainment and Susan Dietz. In association with Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!