Amazing Grace, a musical about the British slave trader who wrote the song, will be hitting Broadway after a successful run in Chicago.
The faith-based musical is about John Newton, who wrote “Amazing Grace” and converted to Christianity. He later became an abolitionist and lived from 1725 to 1807.
The production started in Chicago last fall, where it got mixed reviews. It underwent some changes for a new run at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut and the producers are confident that the audience support will follow when it comes to Broadway.
“It’s a traditional big Broadway musical, but it’s different in that it’s also an opportunity for church group audiences to come to something and feel pretty confident they’ll walk out feeling uplifted,” lead producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland told The New York Times. “The story is exciting and dramatic, with big romance and this amazing thing that happens where his life is changed.”
The Chicago Tribune notes that many members of the Chicago cast will keep their roles, including stars Josh Young and Erin Mackey.
Christopher Smith wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book with Arthur Giron. Gabriel Barre is directing.
Amazing Grace is going to start in the summer, which is a bit unusual for a show this size. It will start previews at the Nederlander Theater on June 25, with an official opening on July 16. Copeland made the decision after the theater was suddenly available with Honeymoon in Vegas closing.