Holler If Ya Hear Me, the Tupac Shakur inspired musical, will begin performances on Broadway on May 26, 2014 and officially open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street).
Director Kenny Leon (Fences, Stick Fly) will bring the original story about friendship, family, revenge, challenge and hope set in the present day on the inner-city streets of a Midwestern industrial city to the stage.
“[Holler If Ya Hear Me] is a present day musical using all of Tupac’s music, but Tupac is not a character in the musical,” Leon told Broadway.com. The musical will incorporate Tupac’s poetry to glimpse through “a window into realities of the streets still relevant today.”
Throughout the years Tupac’s music, life and unsolved death in 1996 has been studied extensively. He has become a cultural icon for past and present-day rappers. “Tupac was a prophet and I want everyone to see that,” Leon explained.
Holler If Ya Hear Me from 2Pac’s second album, talks about black poverty and injustice in inner city communities. The video tells a narrative of a young boy who has lost his father and the effects on his life and community. Tupac’s music incorporated themes of black love, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and violence from his point of view growing up on the east and west coasts. Author Michael Eric Dyson detailed the rapper’s life in a book that shares the same name.
The Rose That Grew From Concrete, a collection of Tupac’s poetry was released in 2000 including spoken vocals from Nikki Giovanni, Jasmine Guy and Mos Def. Its inclusion would make for an interesting addition of the multi-talented artist’s work that extends beyond music into film.
Holler If Ya Hear Me will feature a book written by Todd Kreidler and musical supervisor Daryl Waters. Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur is listed as a producer on the musical. The casting has not been announced.
Leon hinted that Condola Rashad, who starred in Stick Fly, may be of interest in the role. Leon will direct Denzel Washington in an upcoming revival of Raisin in the Sun opening this spring.