David Bowie; Lazarus Musical (2015)

David Bowie's Jukebox Musical

Lazarus is a jukebox musical featuring the music of David Bowie with a book by Enda Walsh. Inspired by the 1963 novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis, Lazarus continues the story of Thomas Newton, a humanoid alien who is stuck on Earth, unable to die or return to his home planet. Lazarus had its world premiere Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on November 18, 2015 and played until January 20, 2016. The show then made the transfer to the West End at King's Cross Theatre in London, playing from October 25, 2016 to January 22, 2017.

Lazarus was one of the last works Bowie completed before his death on January 10, 2016. Bowie's last public appearance was when he attended the 7 December 2015 opening night of the Off-Broadway production. The New York City Mayor's office declared 20 January 2016 – closing night of the Off-Broadway production – to be David Bowie Day; the proclamation was presented to managing director Jeremy Blocker at the curtain call of the final show.

The original cast album was scheduled to be recorded on January 11 2016, the day following Bowie's death. The cast and musicians were informed of his death upon arriving at the studio before recording.

Cast and characters

Off-Broadway (2015–2016) West End (2016–2017)

Thomas Jerome Newton Michael C. Hall

Valentine Michael Esper

Girl, later Marley Sophia Anne Caruso

Elly Cristin Milioti Amy Lennox

Teenage Girl 1 Krystina Alabado Maimuna Memon

Teenage Girl 2 Krista Pioppi Gabrielle Brooks

Teenage Girl 3 Brynn Williams Sydnie Christmas

Zach Bobby Moreno Richard Hansell

Ben Nicholas Christopher Jamie Muscato

Michael Charlie Pollock Tom Parsons

Maemi Lynn Craig Julie Yammanee

Productions

Off-Broadway (2015)

The musical was staged for a limited run at New York Theatre Workshop in Manhattan, directed by Ivo van Hove. Henry Hey, who previously played keyboards on Bowie's 2013 album The Next Day, served as musical director and arranger/orchestrator for the production and worked closely with Bowie during its development. Like Bowie's contemporary album Blackstar (with which it shares the song "Lazarus"), much of the production of the musical was kept secret until its first preview in November 2015. The musical opened on 7 December 2015 with a planned run through 17 January 2016, although the production was extended to 20 January 2016. Tickets to the entire run of the musical sold out within hours of being made available.

West End (2016)

A London production of the musical ran at the King's Cross Theatre from 8 November 2016 to 22 January 2017, with previews beginning the week of 25 October. Ivo van Hove again directed the London production, and Henry Hey was the musical director and arranger/orchestrator. The London production was produced by Robert Fox Ltd. and Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment.

Film

A performance in London was recorded for a Lazarus film; the film was shown in New York for one night in May 2018, and was later livestreamed worldwide online in January 2021 for the fifth anniversary of David Bowie's death.

International productions

Denmark

The first Danish production of Lazarus opened on August 29, 2019, at Aarhus Teater in collaboration with the Royal Danish Theatre. The production was directed by Heinrich Christensen, who also translated the book into Danish, although all songs were sung in English. The production re-opened at the Royal Danish Playhouse, Copenhagen on January 21, 2022.

Prague

A Prague production premiered on 12 October 2019 at Divadlo Komedie.

Amsterdam

An Amsterdam production of the musical premiered on 13 October 2019 at the DeLaMar Theater. Henry Hey was again musical supervisor and arranger/orchestrator. Ivo van Hove, after having directed the runs in New York and London, once again directed.

Musical numbers

Lazarus features a number of songs from Bowie's back catalogue as well as four new tracks ("Lazarus", "No Plan", "Killing a Little Time", "When I Met You").

"Lazarus" – Newton

"It’s No Game (Part 1)" – Japanese Woman, Newton, Teenage Girls

"This Is Not America" – Teenage Girls, Girl

"The Man Who Sold the World" – Michael

"No Plan" – Girl

"Love Is Lost" – Valentine, Teenage Girls

"Changes" – Elly, Teenage Girls

"Where Are We Now?" – Newton

"Absolute Beginners" – Newton, Elly, Valentine, Teenage Girls, Girl

"Dirty Boys" – Valentine

"Killing a Little Time" – Newton

"Life on Mars?" – Girl

"All the Young Dudes" – Ben, Teenage Girls, Maemi

"Sound and Vision"

"Always Crashing in the Same Car" – Elly

"Valentine's Day" – Valentine

"When I Met You" – Newton, Teenage Girl 1

"'Heroes'" – Newton, Marley

Original cast recording

On 21 October 2016, the original cast recording, Lazarus, was released. The album was produced by Henry Hey, who was the musical director and arranger/orchestrator of the original New York production and subsequent productions in London and Amsterdam. The album also features three previously unreleased songs from Bowie, among the last he recorded prior to his death.

Reception

Lazarus met with a mixed critical reception; while some critics praised the concept and performances, others found it pretentious and difficult to follow.

Ben Brantley said in his review of the production in The New York Times that "Ice-bolts of ecstasy shoot like novas through the fabulous muddle and murk of Lazarus, the great-sounding, great-looking and mind-numbing new musical built around songs by David Bowie." Rolling Stone called the musical a "tour de force" and "theater at its finest."

Among the negative reviews, Ann Treneman of The Times called the play "pretentious rubbish" and "nonsense on stilts," while Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph wrote that he was "disappointed" in Bowie's final project, and that "it’s hard to engage head or heart when there’s so much enigma."

Original Off-Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Outcome

2016 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Michael C. Hall Nominated

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Brian Ronan Nominated

Outstanding Projection Design Tal Yarden Nominated

Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Michael C. Hall Nominated

Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Nominated

Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Enda Walsh Nominated

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Michael Esper Nominated

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Sophia Anne Caruso Nominated

Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical) Tal Yarden Nominated

Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical Michael C. Hall Nominated

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Sophia Anne Caruso Nominated

Original West End production

2017 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Actor in a Musical Michael C. Hall Nominated

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Amy Lennox Nominated

Sophia Anne Caruso Nominated

Best Video Design Tal Yarden Nominated

info courtesy of Wikipedia