Robin and the 7 Hoods: Rupert Holmes to write book for new musical

Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes has joined the creative team of the new musical comedy, Robin and the 7 Hoods, it was announced by the show's producers on 27 Jul 2009.

Holmes, who will write the book for Robin and the 7 Hoods, was last represented on Broadway with his book for the Kander and Ebb musical, 'Curtains' (for which he received a Tony Award nomination). Other Broadway writing credits include 'Say Goodnight,' 'Gracie' (Tony Award nomination, Best Play) and the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' (for which Holmes received Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score). In addition, he has written the book for the Broadway bound musical 'The First Wives Club' which is currently playing at The Old Globe in San Diego.

As previously announced the show's creative team also includes score by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen and will be directed and choreographed by multi-Tony Award-nominee Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone,' 'Spamalot').

Producer Denis Mastro said, "Rupert Holmes is one of the savviest writers in the business. His understanding of the world of Robin and the 7 Hoods, and his extraordinary wit make Holmes the perfect partner for Cahn & Van Heusen. We're thrilled he's on board."

Rupert Holme replaces Peter Ackerman who was originally listed as the author of the Robin and the 7 Hoods. The musical was originally aiming to arrive on Broadway in 2009-10, but it will now premiere during the 2010-11 season.

Robin and the 7 Hoods will celebrate songs by Sammy Cahn & James Van Heusen, with the show's musical score including such songs as 'My Kind of Town,' 'Come Fly with Me,' 'Call Me Irresponsible,' 'All The Way,' and more.

The musical is a re-thinking of the classic 1964 Warner Brothers film of the same name, Robin and the 7 Hoods, which starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bing Crosby, and which transplants the Robin Hood legend to prohibition 1930's Chicago.

In the film version, currupt sherrif Guy Gisborne kills the underworld boss Big Jim and seeks to take control himself. All fall in line behind the new crime boss accept Robbo, who controls the north-side. When Robbo gives some money to an orphanage, he finds himself inheriting the mantle of Robin Hood and gains unexpected friends. The sherrif schemes to destroy Robbo, while Mariam, Big Jim's daughter, tries to manipulate both men in her efforts to inherit her dead father's position, and become Chicago's new underworld boss.

The press notes say the musical "will shine a Broadway light on that sexy era in pop culture that ushered in the 1960�s and whose hold remains firm on the American psyche � where James Bond reigned supreme, martinis flowed freely, and Sinatra and Martin ruled the night."

Robin and the 7 Hoods will feature costume design by Gregg Barnes and lighting design by Natasha Katz.

Casting and additional Robin and the 7 Hoods news will be announced soon.