Sammy Davis Jr musical

Musical based on life of Sammy Davis Jr. to be workshopped in London

Will Longman
Will Longman

A new production of a musical based on the life of Sammy Davis Jr. is set to be workshopped next week in the hopes that a full production can be mounted in 2020.

The musical, written by Oscar and Grammy Award winner Leslie Bricusse, chronicles the life of the performer who had hits with songs such as "The Candy Man" and "What Kind of Fool Am I?", was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway musical Golden Boy, and was nominated for five Emmys - winning one - during a career that spanned almost 70 years.

Giles Terera will perform in the title role of the musical - titled Sammy - which will be previewed by prospective producers, theatre owners and investors on Thursday 31st October.

The musical received its world premiere in San Diego in 2009 directed by Keith Glover, but this new modern re-telling will be directed by Clarke Peters (Five Guys Named Moe).

Composer Bricusse wrote Davis Jr's two biggest hits, "The Candy Man" and "What Kind of Fool Am I?", which were originally written with Anthony Newley for the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the musical Stop The World - I Want to Get Off respectively.

Produces Anthology Theatre and Katy Lipson (Aria Entertainment) hope the mount a production next year in what would have been Davis Jr.'s 95th birthday.

Originally published on

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