David Bowie joins the likes of Sting, Cyndi Lauper in writing for the stage
New details have emerged about David Bowie's upcoming stage show "Lazarus," due to premiere in New York in December. Bowie joins a roster of esteemed rock and pop musicians who've tried their hand at the theater in recent years.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the Bowie was working on a stage show. Inspired by the novel "The Man Who Fell to Earth" by Walter Tevis, the production follows the 1976 film of the same name, in which Bowie played an alcoholic alien who comes to Earth in search of water and winds up in captivity.
Bowie is working with Irish playwright Enda Walsh on the show, which is being helmed by Belgian avant-garde director Ivo van Hove.
In a new interview with the BBC, the director revealed that Bowie had written several new "classics" about love and violence for the show, which is to premiere at the New York Theatre Workshop in December.
Among other pop musicians to recently venture into theater is Sting, whose 2014 musical "The Last Ship" features his music and lyrics and is inspired by some of the English musician's childhood experiences. That show premiered in Chicago before heading to Broadway.
Damon Albarn of Blur has undertaken several theater and opera projects, with 2012's "Dr Dee: An English Opera" the most recent to hit the stage. Next up: "wonder.land," a musical, internet-era version of "Alice in Wonderland" to premiere in June at the Manchester International Festival before heading to London and Paris.
And six Tony Awards went to Cyndi Lauper's 2013 musical "Kinky Boots," for which she wrote the music and lyrics. Based on the 2005 movie of the same name, it tells the story of a factory owner who begins making fetish footwear.
David Bowie's "Lazarus" opens in December. Find out more at www.nytw.org.
