A new musical on the life of Bob Marley, entitled Get Up, Stand Up: The Bob Marley Story, is set to open in London in 2021.
The musical will feature Marley’s music woven together to tell the story of the artist’s life and rise to fame. Get Up, Stand Up, produced by Playful Productions, Stage Play, and Trim the Wind, will begin previews at the Lyric Theatre in London on February 6th, 2021. The production personnel also includes several former members of Island Records, the label that brought Marley to international stardom, including founder Chris Blackwell as well as Suzette Newman.
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The source material for the play comes from a book of the same name, written by Lee Hall, who also wrote Billy Elliot and Rocketman. Directed by Dominic Cook, the musical has the blessing of Marley’s family, who have granted the production team license to their patriarch’s most popular songs.
“Our father’s music means so much to so many people around the world, we’re beyond thrilled to be able to bring it to both fans and new audiences alike in a new way led by the stellar team of Lee Hall and Dominic Cooke, and starring the fantastic Arinzé,” Marley’s daughter Cedella said in a statement. “As a family we feel that our father would be proud to know that his legacy is a source of creative inspiration and continues to bring people together.”
The lead role went to Arinzé Kene, who recently starred in a cultural reimagining of Death of a Salesman in London this past year.
“I feel absolutely honored to be able to take on this role,” Kene added. “It is not only an honor to be able to spread Bob Marley’s message further, but to get to be him for a little while is a lifelong dream come true. I grew up on his music and his mantra and he has been one of my role models since I was a child. I feel as if he’s in my DNA. He’s the man, I love him.”
An earlier incarnation of Get Up, Stand Up ran in 2017 under the name One Love: The Bob Marley Musical. That version only focused on Marley’s life from 1976-1978, situating itself around two major events in his life including the assassination attempt that caused him to flee his native Jamaica and move to London in 1976, and his return to Kingston for the 1978 One Love Peace Concert. This 2021 production, however, will span the breadth of Marley’s life.
Pre-sale tickets for Get Up, Stand Up: The Bob Marley Story goes on sale on April 21st.
[H/T New York Times]