*If by chance you were planning on visiting New York, say the first weekend in August, and you wanted to take in the Earth Wind & Fire inspired musical "Hot Feet," well, you and your feet will have keep on walkin'.
The critically-derided musical will end its Broadway run on July 23. When it closes, it will have played 12 previews and 89 regular performances at the Hilton Theatre.
"Hot Feet," starring Vivian Nixon as Kalimba, was conceived, directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines. The show tells the Faustian tale of a beautiful young dancer, Kalimba, whose life's dream is to be a Broadway dancer. Kalimba is cajoled to dance with a pair of magical and enchanted red shoes, and when she puts them on, they begin to take control of the talented dancer's fate.
The show features a book by Heru Ptah (best known for writing the book A Hip-Hop Story). Earth, Wind and Fire founder Maurice White wrote original music and lyrics for Hot Feet, but it also features the group's classic hits, including "Shining Star," "September," "Boogie Wonderland" and "After the Love Has Gone."
After a tryout at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., Hot Feet opened on Broadway on April 30 to mostly negative reviews. In his Broadway.com Review of the musical, William Stevenson wrote:
"The idea of fashioning a musical from the '70s R&B group's hits isn't a bad one, and director-choreographer Maurice Hines' ensemble dance numbers often match the energy of Maurice White's songs. The trouble comes when the cast stops strutting and starts speaking."