James Brown Bio-Musical in Development

The life and career of Godfather of Soul, James Brown, is the subject of a new musical currently in development. 

According to a press release, James Brown the Musical, co-written and produced by Deanna Brown-Thomas, daughter of James Brown and President of the James Brown Family Foundation, alongside co-writer, director, and lead Producer Jeremy E. Cormier, will paint a personal portrait of the music icon, as told by the people who knew him best. 

The production will trace the full arc of Mr. Brown’s journey — from the dirt roads of Barnwell and Augusta, to the stages of The Apollo and Grand Ole Opry, to the White House and world stages — anchored in the music that defined a century. The show will feature iconic James Brown hits including, “Please, Please, Please,” “Cold Sweat,” “It’s a  Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” “Get Up (I Feel Like Being) Sex Machine,” “The Payback,” “Living in  America,” and more.

The musical has been in development for several years, originally appearing as a workshop titled, Papa Didn’t Take No Mess: A James Brown Musical. It will mark the first time Brown's work will be seen on the musical stage. In 2013, the soul icon was honored with a dance production, James Brown: Get on The Good Foot, A Celebration in Dance at New York City's Apollo Theater.

“This is an authentic story that’s been waiting to be told on the stage through the eyes of family. I  traveled with my father on tour, I did his hair, and was Vice-President of The New James Brown  Enterprises,” said Deanna Brown-Thomas, daughter of James Brown, the musical’s Co-Writer  and Lead Producer. “It’s not just about the man who changed music — it’s about his struggles,  his brilliance, being a father and the fire that fueled his message in those lyrics. My father lived  with purpose and power, and this musical will reflect all as I witnessed being with him throughout the years.” 

“We are not adapting a Wikipedia page,” said Jeremy E. Cormier, Director, Co-Book Writer, and  Lead Producer. “We are staging a life. Deanna Brown-Thomas has trusted me to help carry this  story — not as an outsider hired in, but as someone who sat at the table with the family, learned  the truth behind the headlines, and committed to honoring it. Broadway audiences are about to  meet James Brown the way only his family could introduce him: human, complicated, and  unstoppable. The hardest-working man in show business — finally, on the biggest stage in the  world.” 

Casting, dates, and a theater will be announced in the upcoming months.

James Brown (1933–2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and bandleader widely known as the “Godfather of Soul.” A major force in the development of soul, funk, and rhythm and blues music, Brown became famous for hits including “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” Renowned for his electrifying stage presence, intricate rhythms, and influence on generations of artists, Brown is considered one of the most important and innovative performers in modern music history.