Here’s Why I Might Actually Go See Magic Johnson & Larry Bird’s New Broadway Play, Magic/Bird
I’m not really the kind of guy who goes to see Broadway plays. I’m not knocking anyone who does go see them. But, you probably aren’t going to find me on Broadway trying to scoop up a couple of tickets anytime soon. Er, wait. Let me rephrase that. You probably wouldn’t have found me on Broadway trying to scoop up a couple of tickets anytime soon…if it weren’t for the new Magic/Bird Broadway show that just opened on April 11. Using sports to sell Broadway is a relatively new tactic for Broadway—the show, Lombardi, about legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi recently ran from September 2010 through May 2011—but I’ve got to admit: It’s already working!
I came to the realization that I might be interested in seeing Magic/Bird on Wednesday night when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman to help promote the new show. During the course of their appearance, the two legendary NBA players talked about their careers, how their lives intertwined, and how that all plays out in the Broadway show. Truth be told: I could have sat and listened to them talk for another two or three hours and still not gotten tired of hearing what they had to say. When you get a couple of athletes who have a history together to sit down and talk about it, it’s awesome. And, more than that, it’s important. A lot of young kids today don’t understand the impact of a lot of legendary athletes because, quite frankly, they’ve never heard them sit down and talk about. Magic/Bird is a way for them to learn about the history of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Which is why I’d be down to go and see the show on Broadway.
I also think that Broadway should continue to turn to sports to find new ideas for shows. These days, it’s easy to see how dramatic sports can be. But, really, it’s always been like that. So, it should be relatively easy to find historical sports figures who could be turned into Broadway stars. It’d help increase the reach of Broadway, get more people interested in going to shows, and help to bring many athletes to life. Like I said, I’m not really the kind of guy who goes to see Broadway plays. So, if I’m intrigued by something like Magic/Bird, I know there are others out there who are intrigued, too. So, please, Broadway producers: Keep the sports shows coming. More are needed.
