Ephraim Sykes and Bryce Pinkham are set to lead upcoming invitation-only workshop presentations of the Broadway-bound musical Trading Places, the stage adaptation of the 1983 Paramount comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd.
The workshops will take place in New York City on May 14 and May 15, marking a key development step as the production continues its path toward a potential Broadway staging.
Sykes will take on the role of Billy Ray Valentine, the street hustler originally portrayed by Eddie Murphy in the hit film, while Pinkham will play Louis Winthorpe III, the privileged commodities broker played by Dan Aykroyd.
Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (Othello, Purlie Victorious), the project continues to build momentum with a creative team that includes book writer Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!), and a score by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (First Date). Choreography is by Fatima Robinson, known for her work on the Super Bowl Halftime Show and The Wiz Live!.
The workshop cast also features Mark Evans, Marc Kudisch, McKenzie Kurtz, Josh Lamon, Jennifer Sánchez, and Lenny Wolpe, alongside an ensemble that includes Jimmy Ray Bennett, Wendi Bergamini, Reid Clarke, Dana Costello, Julia Grondin, Arica Jackson, Raymond J. Lee, James Luc, Xavier Reyes, Michael McCorry Rose, Laughton Royce, and Kevin Zak.
Originally released in 1983 and directed by John Landis, Trading Places became one of the defining comedies of the decade. Starring Eddie Murphy in one of his early breakout film roles alongside Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ralph Bellamy, and Don Ameche, the film grossed over $90 million at the U.S. box office and ranked among the top five highest-grossing films of the year. Its success helped solidify Murphy’s rise as a major box office star following 48 Hrs.
The story follows a wealthy broker and a street hustler whose lives are unknowingly swapped as part of a cynical bet by two elite brothers, leading to a sharp, satirical look at class and privilege.
The musical previously had a world premiere engagement at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre in 2022. While full Broadway plans have not yet been announced, the upcoming workshop presentations signal continued progress toward a New York bow.