Yes, the rumors are true. Mike Tyson is coming to Broadway and The Great White Way better get ready for a theatrical knock-out.
The famed boxer will make his Broadway debut in an autobiographical one-man show: “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth” starting in July. The one-man show will be directed by the legendary Spike Lee for whom this is also his Broadway debut.
“This is what me and my wife wanted to do, this is what we decided to do after I gave up drugs and being a pig,” said Tyson yesterday, who added that he’s been hoping to further develop his acting career. “I’m born to do this stuff.”
The show promises a rare look at the life of the youngest undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing history, leaving no topic off limits, from his time in prison to his divorce and family life.
“It’s about me being on stage and being pretty raw,” said Tyson. “Not necessarily raw in the vulgar sense … I’m very vulnerable [in the show] and I’m just telling you who I am and where I’m from.”
Lee added that that he would be encouraging Tyson to be as real as possible while on stage.
“It’s not about remembering this word at this exact moment,” said Lee about how closely he would be directing Tyson. “This is not Shakespeare, this is something totally different. [Mike] is telling, he’s sharing his story with the world.”
“Denzel is not playing Mike. It’s not Sam Jackson. Its Mike Tyson. In person. On stage,” said Lee.
As far as being a one-man show, Tyson said he loved being the center of attention, but admitted he would certainly still be nervous.
“It takes courage to get in the ring, but it takes courage to get on the stage,” replied Lee.
The show will run for a limited six-night engagement beginning Tuesday, July 31, through Sunday, August 5 at the Longacre Theater.
“Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth” has already been performed in Las Vegas, where the boxer gave a handful of performances. According to Lee, the NY show will only be tweaked minorly from the Vegas show.
“Vegas was good but this is Broadway,” said Lee. “There is no show like this.”
This is hardly Tyson’s first introduction to the bright lights of Hollywood: He appeared in “The Hangover” and “The Hangover II,” and also had his own TV show on the Animal Planet channel, “Taking on Tyson,” where his love of pigeon racing was featured.
Tickets go on sale today at www.telecharge.com, and are priced between $75 and $199.
