Washington DC, March 18: Six-time Grammy winner James Taylor’s iconic songs will be featured in a new project titled Fire & Rain, written by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts. The musical will be directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The project is still in the early stages of development, and a production timeline has not yet been announced. The project will be produced by Gail Berman, Sam Feldman, Michael Gorfaine, and Broadway theatre owner Jimmy Nederlander, in association with Frank Marshall and Jere Harris.
The title of the musical is inspired by Taylor’s legendary 1970 song “Fire and Rain” from his second album, Sweet Baby James. The song reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of Taylor’s most beloved hits. While this will be the first time Taylor’s catalogue has been used in a major theatrical production, two songs from his album Flag were previously featured in the musical Working.
Tracy Letts, the Pulitzer-winning playwright, is known for writing the acclaimed August: Osage County and Killer Joe, as well as Bug and Superior Donuts, all of which have been adapted for film or television. In addition to his writing, Letts won a Tony Award for his portrayal of George in the 2005 revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. He has also appeared in films such as Lady Bird, Little Women, The Post, and Saturday Night.
David Cromer, the Tony Award-winning director, is known for his work on Our Town, The Band’s Visit on Broadway, and the Off-Broadway revival of Bug and Man from Nebraska. He is currently directing Good Night, and Good Luck, starring George Clooney, at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theater.