Tug Coker Talks About Playing Larry Bird in Broadway’s ‘Magic/Bird’

After their successful run of Lombardi, a play about the NFL’s most legendary coach, producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo decided to tackle two icons from another sport in their next play: basketball icons Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, who engaged in one of sport’s most talked-about rivalries during their playing careers. 

The relationship between the two men, both on-the-court and off-the-court, is the basis of the play Magic/Bird, starring Kevin Daniels as Johnson and Tug Coker as Bird.  Coker spoke to the Associate Press about what he brings to the role beyond his size.

For Coker, who grew up a Boston Celtics fan, playing Bird on stage is pretty close to his dream come true.  He says, “I never thought people would pay to come and see me play basketball.”  Read more