Theater News

Tug Coker to Star in Broadway-Bound Magic / Bird

Tug Coker
Tug Coker

Actor Tug Coker will play basketball star Larry Bird in the Broadway-bound production of Eric Simonson’s Magic / Bird. Tony Award nominee Thomas Kail will direct the production, which has no set opening date or theater.

Based on conversations with fellow NBA star Magic Johnson and Bird, the play chronicles the rivalry, friendship, and intertwined life stories of the two men.

Coker, a former college basketball player, has had guest starring roles on numerous television series, including Law & Order: SVU, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, Torchwood, and Hot in Cleveland.


The creative team will include David Korins (set), Howell Binkley (lighting), Paul Tazewell (costumes), and Nevin Steinberg (sound), and Wendell K. Harrington (projection designer), 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.

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