Jay-Z and Will Smith’s Broadway musical Fela! is to move to London later this year. The forces unite to offer financial support to a historical production.
Fela!, a New York show about the life of Fela Kuti, – a revered African world music star – was having financial difficulties when the hip-hop mogul and actor, along with Smith’s wife Jada, lent a helping hand to save the show. Rehearsals had been halted but Fela! eventually reopened on Broadway in November ’09, with the trio sharing producing credits, according to PR-Inside.com.
Now the show is set to transfer to the British capital’s coveted National Theater venue in November 2010. The musical will run for around 60 performances until January 2011, and then anticipated to move to the West End stage.
Fela!’s lead producer, Stephen Hendel, is hoping the famous investors will turn up to the opening night. He tells Britain’s Daily Mail, “I can’t imagine that they will turn up the first night in London. I can’t imagine Jay-Z, and probably Beyonce, too, and Will and Jada will not come. In the theater world it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have your production honored on the National Theater stage.”
