Magic/Bird to play at the Longacre, further cast announced.

Kevin Daniels is to star in The Broadway premiere of Eric Simonson's new play Magic/Bird, which chronicles the intertwined life stories of basketball Hall of Famers 'Larry Bird' and 'Earvin "Magic" Johnson,' will open at the Longacre Theatre on 21 Mar 2012, following previews from 27 Feb 2012.

As previously announced, the play will star Tug Coker as 'Larry Bird' and Kevin Daniels as 'Earvin 'Magic' Johnson,' joining them are Deirdre O'Connell, Peter Scolari, Rob Ray Manning, Jr. and Francois Battiste, playing multiple roles. Tony nominee Thomas Kail (In the Heights) directs.

Magic/Bird: Two of the greatest basketball players of all-time battled for three championships, bragging rights, and the future of their sport in the 1980s. Johnson and Bird electrified the nation on the court, reinvigorated the NBA, and turned their rivalry into one of the greatest and most famous friendships in professional sports.

The creative team features David Korins (set), Howell Binkley (lighting), Paul Tazwell (costumes), Nevin Steinberg (sound) and Wendall K. Harrington (projections), "who will weave historic NBA film footage throughout the play."

Magic/Bird will be produced in association with the National Basketball Association and Johnson and Bird themselves will participate in the creative process of this completely original play."

The play is being produced on Broadway by Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, who last season presented the Broadway premiere of Simonson's 'Lombardi,' which told the story of the Football Coach Vince Lombardi.