CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | Contact
The band members of iconic Canadian rock outfit, Nickelback have today confirmed their next musical project – and it is very exciting news.
Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, the production company behind the award-winning production of “Kinky Boots”, announced this morning, “singer and musical actor Chad Kroeger has chosen the Broadway adaptation of the 1997 action blockbuster Con-Air to be the next musical project for the rock music institution that is Nickelback.”
“He will be taking on the role of protagonist ‘Cameron Poe’ along with fellow band mates and rock veteran Carlos Santana, who has been double cast for the role.”
Davenport Theatrical Enterprises also added, “Kroeger is the actor that can act out a romantic ‘rough diamond’ with an innocent love towards a woman and child, in the background of a dramatic plane hijacking. Starting as musical director for the production, we decided that he is the actor most fit for the role after and watching his performances as the frontman for Nickelback”
According to an affiliate, Kroeger gladly accepted the offer to perform in his first Broadway musical and admits he has been a lifelong fan of Nicolas Cage.
“I’ve always been an action movie guy, ever since I did the soundtrack for Spiderman 3. I would love to see an iconic action film like Con-air in a theatrical adaptation,”
“We agreed to doing the music for this production in 2010 – it was always going to be Con-Air with music inspired by Nickelback. I never would have thought it would become Nickelback present’s Con-air!”
Producer Ken Davenport has said, “With Chad’s casting, we’ll be able to show the charming and romantic side to ‘Cameron Poe’ – the side that we intended to create for the show. After deciding on the music, We realised this thing couldn’t happen unless Nickelback were actually starring in it. Chad is in the lead but his brother and band mates are joining too,”
“We are certain that the musical genius of Nickelback will be able to show off another side of this intensely American storytelling.”
Fellow member Nickelback, Ryan Peake, has also given comment. Peake has stated that with the announcement of the Con-Air Musical – all of Nickelback’s recording projects will be put on hold.
“This thing won’t go live until at least December, we were hoping to rip through a couple of albums in that time – but obviously we want to take full advantage of this opportunity that has been presented to us. To go from musical directors, to band, to Musical Directors/Band/Cast is mind-blowing,”
Official Film Trailer: Con-Air (1997)
In more exciting news, it seems the theatrical adaptation looks to hold true to the original screenplay. Davenport’s description of plot goes as follows:
Just-paroled army ranger Cameron Poe (Chad Kroeger) is headed back to his wife (Casey Chambers), but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed “Jailbird” with some of the worst criminals living. Along with Diamond Dog (Michael K. Williams) and Baby-O (Mike Kroeger), genius serial killer Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom (Carlos Santana) unleashes a violent escape plot in mid-flight. Secretly working with U.S. Marshall Vince Larkin (Ryan Peake), Poe tries to foil Grissom’s plan.
