James Taylor‘s music is headed to the theater. Fire & Rain, a jukebox-style musical based on the music of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was announced on Monday (March 17), with the in-development project to feature a story by Tony-winning playwright/actor Tracy Letts (August: Osage County, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and direction by Tony-winner David Cromer (The Band’s Visit).
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According to Deadline, while no details have been announced so far about the storyline for the show, a release announcing it heaped praise on six-time Grammy winner Taylor, referring to his musical legacy as, “one of profound influence on American music, particularly in the genres of folk, pop, and singer-songwriter traditions. His career spans over five decades, and his impact can be felt in both the personal nature of his songs and his stylistic innovations. His deeply personal, introspective lyrics and soulful delivery helped define the era’s musical landscape.”
The statement noted that the title song — which was featured on the singer’s 1970 sophomore album, Sweet Baby James, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart — “helped solidify James Taylor’s career and introduce him to a wider audience. The song’s vulnerability and honesty made it resonate with listeners and became one of the defining songs of his career.”
At press time there was not timeline for when Fire & Rain will be staged or where it will debut.
Taylor is the latest in a long line of iconic pop, country and Latin artists who’ve brought their music to the stage in biographical musicals, including Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, The Go-Gos, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Carole King, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, Alicia Keys and many more.
The 77-year-old singer is gearing up to launch his 2025 summer tour, which is slated to kick off on May 5 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix and keep him on the road through a July 1 gig at the BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, NH.
