There have been discussions for years about creating a film based on the life of one of the most charismatic figures in hip-hop history, Tupac Shakur. While a film may happen in the future, plans are underway to bring the celebrated rapper’s story to Broadway.
Titled, Holler If Ya Hear Me, director Kenny Leon’s new musical is not a stage biopic but is inspired by the work of Shakur. Set in the present-day inner city streets ‘my block’ of a Mid-western industrial city, Holler tells the story of two childhood friends (John and Vertus) and their friends, relatives and adversaries as they struggle to reconcile the challenges and realities of their daily lives with their hopes, dreams and ambitions.
Leon is currently conducting a five-week summer developmental workshop for the musical in New York. He plans to have the production ready for its Broadway debut during the upcoming 2013-2014 season.
“So we are going to probably do a big workshop in New York this summer and I’m going to try to bring it to Broadway in the next Broadway season,” said Leon. “So a year from now, hopefully, you’ll be seeing this world-changing musical on the Broadway stage. I couldn’t be more excited… Todd Krickler is writing the book, and with the lyrics by Tupac, it’s going to be very exciting, pretty much would sort of change the face of musical theater as we know it on Broadway, so I am looking forward to that.”
Leon discussed what his approach would be to executing Tupac’s story.
“The idea was always to make a musical inspired by his music and not to do an autobiographical approach to his life or anything like that… And because I always thought that Tupac was a prophet and I thought if everybody could hear his words and hear his stories, they would see what I see.”
Several filmmakers have tried unsuccessfully to bring Pac’s life to the big screen. Both Antoine Fuqua and John Singleton tried and failed to tell his story, with both filmmakers later leaving the project.
Holler If Ya Hear Me is produced by Afeni Shakur, Eric L. Gold, Chunsoo Shin and Jessica Green.