ALI To Play World Premiere in Chicago

ALI To Play World Premiere in Chicago

CHICAGO – Richard Willis, lead producer of ALI, the new musical celebrating the life and legacy of the heavyweight boxing champion and humanitarian Muhammad Ali, today announced the production will premiere in Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre April 22-May 18.

Groups of 10+ are on sale now by calling (312) 977-1710 or by emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. ALI will be part of the next Broadway In Chicago subscription. Current subscribers can begin renewals in August, and the season will be available to new subscribers in September. The sale date for individual tickets will be announced later.

From his early days as Cassius Clay, growing up with dreams of greatness, to his transformation into Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and humanitarian - ALI follows the pivotal moments, the triumphs, and the struggles of the man who was not only ‘The Greatest’ inside the ring, but also a fighter for justice and a beacon of hope outside of it. Experience the story that’s as vibrant and powerful as the man himself. With an original score blending jazz, classical, hip-hop, funk, soul and rock and roll, ALI is a tribute to a man who continues to inspire millions around the world.

Richard Willis said “It’s very exciting and fitting that ALI is premiering in Chicago. Muhammad called the South Side home, and the city held a special place in his heart. We are thrilled to be working with everyone at Broadway In Chicago to bring this powerful new musical to such a passionate, theatre loving audience that will help us shape the show’s future. We can’t wait to be there.”

ALI is written and directed by Clint Dyer (Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre; Olivier Award®-nominated Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical), with original music by composer Teddy Abrams (Music Director Louisville Orchestra, 2024 Grammy Award® winner The American Project, Musical America’s Conductor of the Year 2022), with choreography by Rich + Tone Talauega (MJ The Musical, upcoming MJ Movie, and they have worked with artists including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Usher and more), and co-lyricist/ music producer Q-Tip (Grammy Award® winning hip-hop legend and founder of A Tribe Called Quest).

Casting will be announced soon. For more information, visit www.ALImusical.com.

Muhammad Ali is one of the most influential athletes and humanitarians of the 20th century and has created some of the most legendary moments in sports and civil rights history. More than 50 years after he emerged as a Gold Medalist in Boxing at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Ali’s legacy extends beyond the ring, and he continues to be widely recognized as one of the most celebrated and beloved icons of all time.

His incomparable work ethic, signature boxing techniques, and fearlessness towards standing up for his beliefs, all contribute to the legend that is Muhammad Ali. Among his countless awards and accolades, he was named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Century,” GQ’s “Athlete of the Century,” a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award. Muhammad Ali’s legacy is celebrated across cultures and continues to inspire today’s most influential athletes, artists, musicians, and humanitarians around the world.

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the BroadwayPlayhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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