|  The long awaited musical theater production based on the life of late, great music icon Ray Charles will finally make its way to Broadway this fall.
'Unchain My Heart, the Ray Charles Musical' is set to begin previews Oct. 8 at a Shubert theater to be announced.
Sheldon Epps, the artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse - where the show originated in 2007, will direct the revamped production, which will feature a score by Charles and a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks.
Parks, a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant recipient, was the first African-American woman honored with a Pulitzer Prize for her play 'Topdog/Underdog' in 1997.
Casting has yet to be announced, but Tony Award winning choreographer Kenneth L. Roberson will be a part of the creative team.
Stuart Benjamin, who worked with Charles for 15 years and produced the Oscar-nominated film 'Ray,' will produce the musical.
'Unchain My Heart, the Ray Charles Musical' will explore "the strength, humor and musical genius of the legendary Ray Charles," the production notes stated.
The production will feature such hits as 'Georgia on My Mind,' 'What'd I Say,' 'Mess Around,' 'Hit the Road, Jack,' 'Unchain My Heart,' 'I Got a Woman' and 'Hallelujah, I Love Her So.'
A developmental production was produced at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 under the title of 'Ray Charles Live!' starring Brandon Victor Dixon, who starred as Harpo in 'The Color Purple' musical. The Columbia University graduate can currently be seen Off-Broadway in 'The Scottsboro Boys.'
Film, television and music recording star Jamie Foxx won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005 for his portrayal of Charles in the critically-acclaimed Taylor Hackford-directed film 'Ray.'
Charles died June 10, 2004 at age 73.
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