The musical version of The Mambo Kings will hit the Great White Way this spring after a winter out-of-town tryout at a city to be announced.
"We are looking towards opening in the spring," producer Jordan Roth who is presenting Mambo Kings with his mother, Daryl Roth told Broadway.com. "We had a terrific workshop this summer. It's just going to be the sexiest musical!"
The story is based on Oscar Hijuelos' novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, which was made into a 1992 film featuring Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas and Cathy Moriarty. Set in 1949, the plot centers on the Castillo brothers, who work by day and by night become stars of the dance halls, where their orchestra plays the pulsing music that earns them the title of the Mambo Kings.
The musical version features lyrics and direction by Arne Glimcher who produced, directed and wrote lyrics for The Mambo Kings film and a book by Glimcher and Hijuelos. Music is by Carlos Franzetti, who worked with Glimcher on the film. Sergio Trujillo Peggy Sue Got Married provides the choreography.
A recent reading of The Mambo Kings featured Anthony Crivello, Ivan Hernandez, Leah Hocking, Cote de Pablo, Natascia Diaz, Michael Goldstrom, Priscilla Lopez and Alton White. No casting has been announced for the full-scale production.