Dec. 18--A show from Los Angeles about the Vegas singers Louis Prima and Keely Smith is headed to the Royal George Theatre mainstage, the presenter Hershey Felder said on Thursday.
Titled "Louis Keely 'Live' at the Sahara," the show is co-written, directed and co-produced by the Hollywood director Taylor Hackford, best known for the 1982 movie "An Officer and a Gentleman." Hackford is married to the actress Helen Mirren, who will appear on Broadway in the spring in "The Audience."
The song-and-dance piece, which was at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles for some seven months, tells the story of the peak Las Vegas years of one of the more influential musical and cabaret double-acts of the 1950s and 1960s (Prima and Smith were married from 1953 to 1961). A seven-piece live band provides the accompaniment to such hits as "That Ol' Black Magic" and "What is This Thing Called Love." "Louis Keely" was co-written by Vanessa Claire Smith, who originated the role of Keely Smith, and by Jake Broder, who originated the role of Louis Prima. Chicago casting has not yet been announced.
Performances at the Royal George, 1641 N. Halsted St., are slated to begin March 27, with opening night not yet announced. Tickets go on sale Dec. 30; theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.
