LOS ANGELES (Luck Media & Marketing/ www.luckmedia.com) -
Kalimba Entertainment president and six-time Grammy-winning
Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White has paired up with Tony-nominated actor, choreographer and member of the famed dance troupe Hines, Hines and Dad, Maurice Hines for the Broadway-stepping musical "Hott Feett."
The contemporary urban play will feature Hines' choreography and direction set to White's Earth, Wind & Fire hits, including "Shining Star," "September," "Boogie Wonderland," "That's the Way of the World" and "After the Love Has Gone," as well as new originals that White is composing for "Hott Feett." A live band will perform the songs during the theatrical production.
This is the first collaboration for "M-Squared," as the two Maurices are sometimes referred. Hines, whose many credits include director / choreographer for such musicals as "Satchmo," "Harlem Suite" and "Ella Fitzgerald: The First Lady of Song," presented the "Hott Feett" idea to White, and they have been working on it for the past year. The pairing of White and Hines for this project has already generated interest from Broadway producers and theatres in the U.S. and abroad.
White says, "Working with Maurice Hines has been a blast. He makes my music and lyrics come alive in ways I never would have imagined."
Hines comments, "The music of Maurice White inspires me. It's an honor for me to be collaborating with him."
MTV Books writer Heru Ptah is the author of the book of the four-act play, inspired by Earth, Wind & Fire chart-toppers, as well as White's solo material.
White and Hines' "Hott Feett" concept is similar to the Billy Joel-Twyla Tharp musical, "Movin' Out," in that the choreography and storyline are built upon the artist's songs, but are not based on his life.
Casting for the workshop phase of the "Hott Feett" production is slated for the top of 2005. The play is anticipated to workshop in the spring 2005, with its official premiere projected for mid-year 2005.
A Broadway opening is anticipated for early 2006.
