Jay-Z and Will Smith are getting behind “Fela!” in a big way.
The hip-hop mogul and the movie star are putting a combined $3 million into Bill T. Jones‘ rousing musical about Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti, production sources say.
But they’d better be prepared to do more than just write a check.
A lot of theater people (myself included) are rooting for “Fela!” to succeed on Broadway as it did off-, but ticket sales are anemic.
The musical needs all the exposure Jay-Z and Will-S can generate. Look at what Oprah Winfrey did for “The Color Purple.”
She put $1 million into it and talked it up everywhere she went (to say nothing of regular plugs on her TV show).
The day she famously buried the hatchet with David Letterman — which just happened to be the same day “The Color Purple” opened on Broadway — the box office took in more than $1 million, despite lukewarm reviews.
Smith and Jay-Z should high-tail it over to “Letterman,” “Conan,” “Good Morning America,” “Fox and Friends” and, of course, “Theater Talk.”
They should bring the musical’s sexy cast with them and join them in a couple of show-stopping numbers — “Zombie,” say, or “I.T.T.”
An aggressive “Fela!” blitz featuring Smith and Jay-Z — with perhaps an assist from Beyoncé, who also adores the show — should give the box office a kick.
Meanwhile, the show itself could use a pair of scissors.
Now in previews at the Eugene O’Neill, “Fela!” is running three hours, which is way, way too long.
“I don’t care how energetic it is, people don’t like to sit for three hours,” a production source says. “The show’s got four endings right now.”
The critics raved about “Fela!” when it opened off-Broadway last year. But a few pointed out that the show could lose about 20 minutes.
Critics like nothing more than to see their orders carried out. Producers who flout them do so at their peril.
Another tricky issue is the rotating leads.
As Fela, Sahr Ngaujah is sensational, a real star in the making. You can bet that he’ll be showered with raves and awards.
But the role is so demanding, he’s only performing four times a week. His alternate is Kevin Mambo.
If Jones cast him, I’m sure he’s good — but it’s hard to imagine anyone matching Ngaujah’s brilliance, energy and intensity. No matter how good Mambo is, he’s going to be seen as the understudy.
I asked an insider how the production is going to handle this potentially dicey situation. You can’t, after all, have audiences headed for the refund line when, four times a week, they find out they’re not getting Ngaujah.
“I don’t think we’ll tell them,” this person said, joking — sort of. “Honestly, I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t think they’ve figured it out yet.”
“Fela!” opens Nov. 23, so there’s still time to solve these problems.
Jay-Z, Will Smith and a pair of scissors could make all the difference.
I wrote on Wednesday that “Shrek” must close, and what happens?
DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg runs right over to the theater and posts a Jan. 3 closing notice.
If that’s not power, I don’t know what is.
Clearly, BroadwaySpace needs to re-evaluate its list of the 50 most powerful people on Broadway.
I’m not going to be No. 37 for long. The wind is at my back, and I’m vaulting over Stephen Sondheim (“Bounce”), Roundabout chief Todd Haimes (“Bye Bye Birdie,” anyone?), super-agent George Lane (picture not available) and producer Kevin McCollum (“White Christmas” — ick!).
I’m closing in on the No. 1 spot, now held by Phil Smith, chairman of the Shuberts.
He’s the king, but I’m on the move. Uneasy lies the crown!