Larry Bird News

MAGIC/BIRD, a new play from the team that brought you LOMBARDI on Broadway, will play at the Longacre Theater, 200 West 48th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, NYC. Previews will begin Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Magic Johnson recently visited the cast at rehearsals and suprised a lucky ticket buyer at the box office. Check out photos below!

MAGIC/BIRD, a new play from the team that brought you LOMBARDI on Broadway, will play the Longacre Theater beginning Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in anticipation of an April 11, 2012 opening night. Tickets now on sale to the general public by phone 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

MAGIC/BIRD, a new play from the team that brought you LOMBARDI on Broadway, will play the Longacre Theater beginning Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in anticipation of an April 11, 2012 opening night. Tickets now on sale to the general public by phone 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

Producers of MAGIC/BIRD have announced that the show will play Broadway's Longacre Theater, with previews beginning March 21 and an opening set for April 11 reports the New York Times.

Despite the fact that Broadway theatres are anticipated to be at a premium this spring - with close to two dozen productions announcing their debuts in addition to the long-running shows occupying Broadway houses - two productions are moving full speed ahead.

2012 is just around the corner, and there are a plethora of shows in store for this new Broadway season. From brand new musicals to vintage plays and West End transfers to American classics, 2012's upcoming shows should surely lead to a stellar awards season this spring. Check out a preview of all 21 announced productions below!

MAGIC BIRD has found its "Magic". Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo report that the most widely asked question throughout the MAGIC BIRD process has been who is going to play Magic Johnson. On December 9th while the basketball fan learned the details of the newly announced NBA Season, in walked actor Kevin Daniels to the Magic Bird audition room.

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) will next present MAGIC/BIRD on Broadway, reuniting with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) and Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson. The new play chronicles 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. According to an audition notice out today, the production will go into rehearsal on January 23, 2012 and begin previews on February 27. An opening date and theater have yet to be announced. Check out interviews with Kail, Ponturo, and Kirmser below!

With stars such as Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas already signed on to guest star in NBC's upcoming Broadway-based series SMASH, the series has added yet another star to its list: Uma Thurman will join the show for a five episode arc.

Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, announced today the title role of Hall of Fame Basketball Player and Celtics Legend Larry Bird will be played by Tug Coker. Tug Coker will be making his Broadway debut with the role of Larry Bird.

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) will next present MAGIC/BIRD on Broadway, reuniting with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) and Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson. The new play chronicles 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. According to an audition notice out today, the production will go into rehearsal on January 23, 2012 and begin previews on February 27. An opening date and theater have yet to be announced.

NBC will bring 'The CLIOS: World's Best Commercials' to network television this fall in a one-hour primetime special hosted by comedian JB Smoove and produced by JUMA Entertainment. These commercials, all nominated this past year for CLIO recognition, feature some of the biggest names in television, movies and sports, including Jason Bateman, Kevin Bacon, Will Arnett, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

On Twitter Watch, Magic Johnson wrote 'So excited for the Magic/Bird Broadway play! Have some really amazing people involved and it's going to be great. Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) announced today members of their creative team. Tony nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) will reunite with Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new 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. The creative team is David Korins (Set), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Paul Tazewell (Costumes) and Nevin Steinberg (Sound) and Wendell K. Harrington (Projections), who will weave historic NBA film footage throughout the play. '

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) announced today members of their creative team. Tony nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) will reunite with Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new 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.

A labor of love and a wonderful homage to the man who was an institution in Boston, Ken Dooley's 'The Auerbach Dynasty' offers a hefty helping of nostalgia alongside a strong portrayal of Arnold 'Red' Auerbach by Jeff Gill in a solo performance as the first coach of the Boston Celtics.

The website for the upcoming Broadway play, MAGIC/BIRD, produced by Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi), is now online. A new play by Oscar winner and Lombardi playwright Eric Simonson, MAGIC/BIRD chronicles 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.

Broadway's LOMBARDI will play its final performance on Sunday May 22.

The producers of Broadway's LOMBARDI announced today that the show will play its final performance on Sunday May 22. Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo said, 'LOMBARDI was a story that we wanted to tell and an idea that we believed in. We wanted to attract both an audience which had never set foot in a Broadway theatre, and to satisfy the traditional theatre goer. Vince Lombardi's remarkable life offered us the opportunity to assemble a cast made in heaven, and a creative dream team.'

NBA star and activist Magic Johnson spoke about the play based on his friendship and rivalry with Larry Bird, heading to the Great White Way in 2012. He compared it to the much talked-about SPIDER-MAN, TURN OFF THE DARK, and discussed possible moments that would appear in the show.

While the NBA All-Star Weekend unfolds in Los Angeles, it was announced today that Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, the Producers of Lombardi (currently running on Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre) are embarking on their next Broadway collaboration, MAGIC/BIRD.