Eighteen years after his untimely death, the music of late MC/poet/actor Tupac Shakur will become the blueprint for a new Broadway musical opening in June.
“Holler If Ya Hear Me,” a project two years in the making, won’t necessarily be a biographical musical, but one where the plot and characters are heavily inspired by Shakur’s music, along the lines of other jukebox musicals like “Mamma Mia” or “Movin’ Out.”
The official press release lays the groundwork for the plot:
HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the world inside Tupac Shakur’s music and lyrics, blazes to life in a non-biographical story about friendship, family, revenge, change and hope. Inner city lives struggle for peace against the daily challenges they face in this entertaining and original musical. Through the poetry of one of the 20th century’s most influential and culturally prominent voices, we are given a window into realities of the streets still relevant today.
“Holler If Ya Hear Me” is being directed by Kenny Leon, with a story written by Todd Kreidler. Previews begin on May 26, 2014 with an official opening date of June 19, 2014. There’s no casting information as of yet.
Enjoy the title song below, from Shakur’s second album “Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z.”