New Musical Robin and the 7 Hoods Eyes 2010 Broadway Debut

A new musical adaptation of the 1964 Rat Pack film Robin and the 7 Hoods has set its sights on a Broadway debut in Spring 2010. Directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award nominee Casey Nicholaw Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone and the upcoming To Be or Not to Be, the production will showcase the classic songs from Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, such as “My Kind of Town,” “Come Fly with Me” and “Call Me Irresponsible.”

Robin and the 7 Hoods will feature a book by Peter Ackerman, author of the off-Broadway comedy Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight. Ackerman was credited with book revisions for the 2006 Broadway revival of The Pajama Game.

A Prohibition-era reimagining of the tale of Robin Hood, Robin and the 7 Hoods starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, Peter Falk and Barbara Rush, trading Sherwood Forest for a gangland Chicago riddled with mobsters. When racketeer Robbo Sinatra refuses to surrender his territory to a corrupt sheriff and new mob boss Falk, Chicago's worst go gunning for him. When a surprising rainfall of illicit funds comes his way, Robbo donates the ill-earned money to a local orphanage and quickly becomes the toast of the town. As the mob war simultaneously rages on, Robbo forms an alliance with the orphanage's director Crosby and a smooth pool player Martin and tries to come out of it all alive.

The film was nominated for a Best Music, Scoring Academy Award for Nelson Riddle in 1965, and garnered another Oscar nod for Best Original Song for “My Kind of Town,” sung famously by Sinatra. Robin also nabbed a Grammy nomination for Best Original Score the same year.

In addition to contributing countless songs to the American Songbook, Cahn and Van Heusen won four Academy Awards for their compositions, including “High Hopes” and “All The Way,” both recorded by Sinatra, a frequent collaborator. Their joint and individual work has long been a Broadway staple, featured in shows including Come on Strong, Skyscraper, Walking Happy and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Robin and the 7 Hoods will feature musical supervision by John McDaniel, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Natasha Katz and hair and wig design by Josh Marquette. The show is being produced by Bruce Charet, Dennis Mastro, Dennis Farina, Billy Campbell and executive producer Barry Brown.

Casting and production dates have not yet been set.