Woodstock: new musical aims for Broadway in 2010-2011

After 40 years , the historic concert known simply as 'Woodstock' lives on as one of the most exciting and influential cultural events of all time.

On the anniversary of the concert, Michael Lang and Sam Nappi have announced that they will produce a new Broadway musical utilizing elements of Lang's critically acclaimed bestseller, �The Road to Woodstock". The as yet untitled new musical will have a new book and is in development and on track for a debut on Broadway during the 2010-2011 season.

In the summer of 1969, the world changed forever. An incredible lineup of musicians gathered to perform for the largest audience ever assembled. Artists such as the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young among countless others, came together at a dairy farm in Bethel, New York. The concert became legendary and was captured on film in the Academy Award winning documentary, in scores of books and recordings and many apocryphal "I was there accounts".

Now, Michael Lang will help bring the subject of his critically best seller, �The Road to Woodstock" to the stage. Lang was the co-founder and producer of the concert. (He is vividly played by Jonathan Groff in Ang Lee's film, �Taking Woodstock,� although the new musical is not related to the film or any other existing source material). Uniquely qualified to tell this story, Lang artfully captures those days that would forever define a generation.

�It�s the ideal time to bring Woodstock and the summer of �69 to Broadway for people of all ages�, Lang said. �The theater is the perfect place to experience the events of that summer when music and the hope for peace brought us together and changed all of our lives. This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I�m thrilled to finally make it a reality.�

Joining Lang to produce the new musical is Lang's long time friend and business associate, Sam Nappi. Together, they have formed Harmony Entertainment to produce this project as well as others in development. Established in 2008, Harmony was created to foster new work in theater and film. A full slate of projects is to be announced later.

"Michael and I have shared the enthusiasm to produce this show for some time" said Nappi. "This year we all experienced an overwhelming response to Michael's best selling book and the 40th anniversary celebrations of Woodstock around the world. This is testimony to the impact three days of peace love and music had in uniting a generation in the summer of 1969. We know the same spirit lives today in people yearning to �get back to the garden� once again in peace, love and music, and it�s incredibly exciting pulling together the team to get this musical to Broadway. Not only am I passionate about our project, I look forward to being part of the Broadway community; I have been an ardent theatergoer and supporter of the arts my whole life, and I have greatly admired the men and women who produce great new work. I can't think of a better way to roll up my sleeves and dive right in!"

Mr. Nappi is an upstate businessman with offices in NYC and around New York State. One of Mr Nappi's Companies, Alliance Energy, provides Green Electric power to over 250,000 house holds generated from Hydro Turbines Bio diesel and clean natural gas.

The as-yet-untitled book musical will feature both new music as well as some of the great music performed at the festival.

A creative team is being assembled. The venue, dates and further information are to be announced.