New Musical Louis & Keely Aims for Broadway Following National Tour

Runaway hit Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara, currently playing an extended run at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse, may be eyeing a spot on Broadway. The musical biography is preparing for a short national tour to begin in 2010, with Broadway as its ideal final stop toward the end of the year, according to producers. No dates or specific cities for the tour have been announced as of this time, though the team has confirmed that Academy Award nominated director Taylor Hackford (of the films Ray and La Bamba) will not continue his involvement with the show once touring begins.

Louis & Keely follows the stormy relationship between married singing and songwriting pair Louis Prima and Keely Smith as they take their lounge act to the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The show features some of the real-life duo’s most famous tunes, including “That Old Black Magic,” “Just a Gigolo” and “I Wish You Love.” The show originally opened at the Geffen in March 2009 after a run at the Sacred Fools Theatre in 2008.

A spokeswoman for the Geffen Playhouse confirmed that show stars and co-writers Jake Broder (Prima) and Vanessa Claire Smith (Smith) will rewrite portions of the script, and that the new version of the show will be restaged by a different unnamed director.

"They're constantly learning new things about the show and they wanted to take the production in a slightly different direction," the spokeswoman said.

Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara stars Broder and Smith, as well as Nick Cagle and Erin Matthews. The show is currently running through September 27.