Lazarus (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 18 November 2015 and played until 20 January 2016. The show then made the transfer to the West End at King's Cross Theatre in London, playing from 25 October 2016 to 22 January 2017.
Lazarus
David Bowie
- 2015 Off-Broadway
- 2016 Off-West End
- 2018 Hamburg
- 2019 Melbourne
- 2019 Amsterdam
- 2019 Prague
- 2019 São Paulo
- 2019 Bielefeld
- 2019 Oslo
- 2020 Rio de Janeiro
- 2020 Wrocław
- 2020 Gießen / Hessen
- 2022 Copenhagen
- 2023 Stockholm
Director Ivo van Hove
Musical Director Henry Hey
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.[1] 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.[2]
The original cast album was scheduled to be recorded on 11 January 2016, the day following Bowie's death.[3] The cast and musicians were informed of his death upon arriving at studio before recording.[4]
Productions[edit]
Off-Broadway (2015)[edit]
The musical was staged for a limited run at New York Theatre Workshop in Manhattan, directed by Ivo van Hove.[5][6] 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.[7] Like Bowie's contemporary album Blackstar (with which it shares the song "Lazarus"),[8] much of the production of the musical was kept secret until its first preview in November 2015. The musical opened on 7 December 2015[9] with a planned run through 17 January 2016,[10] although the production was extended to 20 January 2016.[11] Tickets to the entire run of the musical sold out within hours of being made available.[12]
West End (2016)[edit]
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.[13][14] Ivo van Hove again directed the London production, and Henry Hey was the musical director and arranger/orchestrator.[15][16] The London production was produced by Robert Fox Ltd. and Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment.[17]
Original cast recording[edit]
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.[25] The album also features three previously unreleased songs from Bowie, among the last he recorded prior to his death.
Reception[edit]
Lazarus met with a mixed critical reception; while some critics praised the concept and performances, others found it pretentious and difficult to follow.[26]
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."[27] Rolling Stone called the musical a "tour de force" and "theater at its finest."[28]
Among the negative reviews, Ann Trenemen of The Times called the play "pretentious rubbish" and "nonsense on stilts",[29] 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".[30]