Theatre News Wire

Ali, a new Broadway musical based on the life of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is set to make its debut in Chicago. The show will have its first run at the Nederlander Theatre in spring 2025, with plans to move to Broadway for the 2025-2026 season. This biographical production aims to bring the story of the iconic athlete and cultural figure to the stage through music and drama.

Ali at Nederlander Theatre in Chicago

The musical chronicles the extraordinary journey of a cultural icon, from his youth as an ambitious boxer to his evolution into a global symbol of courage and conviction. The show explores the key events that shaped his life, celebrating both his athletic prowess and his unwavering commitment to social justice. Through a dynamic fusion of musical styles - including elements of jazz, hip-hop, and soul - the production aims to capture the essence of this larger-than-life figure. "ALI" promises to be a stirring homage to a man whose impact reached far beyond the boxing ring, touching hearts and minds across generations.

Richard Willis said “It’s very exciting and fitting that ALI is premiering in Chicago. Muhammad called the South Side home, and the city held a special place in his heart. We are thrilled to be working with everyone at Broadway In Chicago to bring this powerful new musical to such a passionate, theatre loving audience that will help us shape the show’s future. We can’t wait to be there.”

ALI is written and directed by Clint Dyer (Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre; Olivier Award®-nominated Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical), with original music by composer Teddy Abrams (Music Director Louisville Orchestra, 2024 Grammy Award® winner The American Project, Musical America’s Conductor of the Year 2022), with choreography by Rich + Tone Talauega (MJ The Musical, upcoming MJ Movie, and they have worked with artists including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Usher and more), and co-lyricist/ music producer Q-Tip (Grammy Award® winning hip-hop legend and founder of A Tribe Called Quest).

ABOUT MUHAMMAD ALI
Muhammad Ali is one of the most influential athletes and humanitarians of the 20th century and has created some of the most legendary moments in sports and civil rights history. More than 50 years after he emerged as a Gold Medalist in Boxing at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Ali’s legacy extends beyond the ring, and he continues to be widely recognized as one of the most celebrated and beloved icons of all time.

His incomparable work ethic, signature boxing techniques, and fearlessness towards standing up for his beliefs, all contribute to the legend that is Muhammad Ali. Among his countless awards and accolades, he was named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Century,” GQ’s “Athlete of the Century,” a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award. Muhammad Ali’s legacy is celebrated across cultures and continues to inspire today’s most influential athletes, artists, musicians, and humanitarians around the world.