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{{Short description|Musical composed by David Bowie}}
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{{Infobox Musical
{{Infobox musical
|name=Lazarus
|name=Lazarus
|image=
|image=Lazarus-poster.png
|caption=
|caption=Off-Broadway promotional poster
|music= [[David Bowie]]
|music= [[David Bowie]]
|lyrics= [[David Bowie]]
|lyrics= David Bowie
|book=
|book= [[Enda Walsh]]
|basis= [[Nicolas Roeg]]'s ''[[The Man Who Fell to Earth]]''
|basis= ''[[The Man Who Fell to Earth]]''<br />by [[Walter Tevis]]
|productions= 2015 [[Off-Broadway]]
|productions={{plainlist|
*2015 [[Off-Broadway]]
*2016 [[Off West End|Off-West End]]
|awards=
*2018 [[Hamburg]]
}}
*2019 [[Melbourne, Australia|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]]
*2023/24 [[Kiel]]
*2024 [[Prague]]}}


'''Director''' [[Ivo van Hove]]<br />
'''''Lazarus''''' is a musical written by [[David Bowie]] and [[Enda Walsh]], and produced by [[John Guare]]. First performed at the end of 2015, it was one of the the last works Bowie completed before his death on 10 January 2016. The musical is a continuation of the story from the movie ''[[The Man Who Fell to Earth]]''.
'''Musical Director''' [[Henry Hey]]<br />
'''Arranger''' Henry Hey
|awards=}}


'''''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 (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 theatre|West End]] at King's Cross Theatre in London, playing from 25 October 2016 to 22 January 2017.
==Production details==
The musical is currently staged for a limited run at [[New York Theatre Workshop]] in Manhattan.<ref name="nytl">{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/fashion/david-bowie-invisible-new-yorker.html | title=David Bowie: Invisible New Yorker | date=16 January 2016 | accessdate=18 January 2016 | first=Steven | last=Kurutz | journal=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Like Bowie's contemporary album ''[[Blackstar]]'' (which shares some of the music)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hollandude.com/producer-tony-visconti-talks-david-bowie-and-blackstar/ | title=Producer Tony Visconti Talks David Bowie and Blackstar | journal=Hollandude | date=6 January 2016 | accessdate=12 January 2016 | first=Eric|last=Holland}}</ref>, much of the production of the musical was kept in secret until its first preview in November 2015. The musical opened on 7 December 2016<ref name="ttl">{{cite web | url=http://www.techtimes.com/articles/123938/20160113/broadway-play-lazarus-david-bowies-swan-song.htm | title=Off-Broadway Play 'Lazarus' Is David Bowie's Swan Song | accessdate=18 January 2016 | date=13 January 2016 | first=Jan | last=Dizon | journal=Tech Times}}</ref> with a planned run through 17 January 2016.<ref name="pbl">{{cite web | url=http://playbill.com/news/article/david-bowies-lazarus-opens-off-broadway-tonight-374294 | title=David Bowie's Lazarus Opens Off-Broadway Tonight | first=Olivia | last=Clement | date=7 December 2015 | accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref> Tickets to the entire run of the musical sold out within hours of being made available.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/tickets-to-david-bowies-lazarus-sell-out-within-hours-366100 | title=Tickets to David Bowie's Lazarus Sell Out Within Hours | first=Olivia | last=Clement | date=7 October 2015 | accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref>


Lazarus was one of the last works Bowie completed before [[Death of David Bowie|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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Char |title=Bowie's final public appearance |url=http://people.com/celebrity/david-bowies-final-public-appearance-before-death/ |access-date=1 November 2016 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 January 2016 |title=Mayor's Office Declares Wednesday 'David Bowie Day' |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/01/20/mayors-office-declares-wednesday-david-bowie-day/ |access-date=25 January 2016 |publisher=CBS Local – New York}}</ref>
The play was written by Bowie and [[Enda Walsh]].<ref name="ttl" /> It was produced by Bowie and [[John Guare]].<ref name="nytl" /> It is directed by [[Ivo van Hove]].<ref name=utl>{{cite web | url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2015/04/02/david-bowies-lazarus-to-debut-on-broadway/70822810/ | title=Bowie's 'Lazarus' gets off-Broadway debut | date=2 April 2015 | accessdate=18 January 2016 | journal=[[USA Today]] | first=Ann | last=Oldenburg}}</ref>


The [[Lazarus (soundtrack)|original cast album]] was scheduled to be recorded on 11 January 2016, the day following Bowie's death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2016 |title=David Bowie's Lazarus Musical Records Cast Album |work=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/david-bowies-lazarus-musical-records-cast-album-com-378935 |access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref> The cast and musicians were informed of his death upon arriving at studio before recording.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lazarus album |url=http://www.davidbowie.com/news/lazarus-cast-album-pre-order-live-now-56266 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104001101/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/lazarus-cast-album-pre-order-live-now-56266 |archive-date=4 November 2016 |accessdate=2 November 2016}}</ref>
[[Michael C. Hall]] stars in the current production of the musical.<ref name="ttl" />

== Cast and characters ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!'''Off-Broadway (2015-2016)'''
!'''West End (2016-2017)'''
|-
|'''Thomas Jerome Newton'''
| colspan="2" |[[Michael C. Hall]]
|-
|'''Valentine'''
| colspan="2" |[[Michael Esper]]
|-
|'''Girl, ''later'' Marley'''
| colspan="2" |[[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 (actor)|Nicholas Christopher]]
|[[Jamie Muscato]]
|-
|'''Michael'''
|Charlie Pollock
|[[Tom Parsons (actor)|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]].<ref name="nytl">{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/fashion/david-bowie-invisible-new-yorker.html|title=David Bowie: Invisible New Yorker|date=16 January 2016| access-date=18 January 2016| first=Steven|last=Kurutz|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/6058|title=''Lazarus'' | website = Lortel.org | date =17 December 2021| accessdate =}}</ref> [[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.<ref name = "newyorker2016">{{cite magazine | last=Larson | first=Sarah |url= https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/11/ground-control | title = Ground Control: Bowie, Off Broadway | magazine = [[The New Yorker]]| place = New York| date = 11 January 2016| accessdate = 30 September 2019}}</ref> Like Bowie's contemporary album ''[[Blackstar (album)|Blackstar]]'' (with which it shares the song "[[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]"),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hollandude.com/producer-tony-visconti-talks-david-bowie-and-blackstar/ | title=Producer Tony Visconti Talks David Bowie and ''Blackstar'' | website=Hollandude.com | date=6 January 2016 | access-date=12 January 2016 | first=Eric|last=Holland}}</ref> much of the production of the musical was kept secret until its first preview in November 2015. The musical opened on 7 December 2015<ref name="ttl">{{cite journal | url= http://www.techtimes.com/articles/123938/20160113/broadway-play-lazarus-david-bowies-swan-song.htm | title= Off-Broadway Play ''Lazarus'' Is David Bowie's Swan Song | access-date=18 January 2016 | date=13 January 2016 | first=Jan | last=Dizon | journal=Tech Times}}</ref> with a planned run through 17 January 2016,<ref name= "pbl">{{cite web | url= https://playbill.com/article/david-bowies-lazarus-opens-off-broadway-tonight-com-374294 | title=David Bowie's ''Lazarus'' Opens Off-Broadway Tonight | first=Olivia | last=Clement | website = Playbill.com |date=7 December 2015 | access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref> although the production was extended to 20 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://movies.ndtv.com/music/new-york-declares-david-bowie-day-as-final-play-ends-1268218 | title=New York Declares 'David Bowie Day' as Final Play Ends| website = movies.ndtv.com| date=21 January 2016 | access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> Tickets to the entire run of the musical sold out within hours of being made available.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.playbill.com/article/tickets-to-david-bowies-lazarus-sell-out-within-hours-com-366100 | title=Tickets to David Bowie's ''Lazarus'' Sell Out Within Hours | first=Olivia | last= Clement | website = Playbill.com |date= 7 October 2015 | access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36883217 | title=David Bowie musical ''Lazarus'' to open in London | date=25 July 2016 | access-date=25 July 2016 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="wos">{{cite web | url= http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/full-cast-announced-david-bowie-lazarus-amy-lennox_41787.html | title=Full cast announced for David Bowie's ''Lazarus''| work=WhatsOnStage.com | date=15 September 2016 | access-date=15 September 2016 | first=Will | last=Longman}}</ref> Ivo van Hove again directed the London production, and Henry Hey was the musical director and arranger/orchestrator.<ref name="nytx">{{cite news | url= https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/26/theater/lazarus-david-bowie-enda-walsh-london.html?_r=0 | title= ''Lazarus'', a Musical by David Bowie and Enda Walsh, to Open in London | date=25 July 2016 | access-date=25 July 2016 | first=Christopher | last= Shea | work= The New York Times}}</ref><ref name = "relix2018">{{cite web | last=Inman |first=Matt |url= https://relix.com/articles/detail/henry_hey_on_the_return_of_lazarus_and_working_with_david_bowie/ | title = Henry Hey on the Return of Lazarus and Working with David Bowie| website = [[Relix]]| date = 25 April 2018| accessdate = 30 September 2019}}</ref> The London production was produced by Robert Fox Ltd. and Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-bowies-lazarus-musical-sets-914147 | title=It's Official: David Bowie's ''Lazarus'' Musical Sets London Run | date=25 July 2016 | access-date=25 July 2016 | first=Ashley | last=Lee |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

====Film====
A performance in London was recorded for a ''Lazarus'' film; the film was shown in New York for one night in May, 2018,<ref>{{cite web | via = MSN.com |url= https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/musicnews/david-bowie%E2%80%99s-lazarus-rises-again-in-brooklyn/ar-AAwDYox | title= David Bowie's Lazarus Rises Again in Brooklyn | date=2 May 2018 | access-date=8 May 2018 | first=Corey | last= Seymour | work=Vogue}}</ref> and was later livestreamed worldwide online in January, 2021 for the fifth anniversary of David Bowie's death.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daneil|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-lazarus-livestream-london-1105316/| title = Watch London Production of David Bowie's 'Lazarus' in Honor of Icon's Birthday|magazine = Rolling Stone |date = 8 January 2021}}</ref>

=== International productions ===

==== Denmark ====
The first Danish production of ''Lazarus'' opened August 29, 2019 at [[Aarhus Theatre|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lazarus |url=https://www.aarhusteater.dk/det-sker/forestillinger/2019-20/lazarus/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.aarhusteater.dk}}</ref> The production re-opened at the [[Royal Danish Playhouse]], [[Copenhagen]] on January 21, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sceneblog |date=2022-01-22 |title=LAZARUS // Skuespilhuset, Det Kongelige Teater |url=http://sceneblog.dk/lazarus-skuespilhuset-det-kongelige-teater/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=SCENEBLOG |language=da-DK}}</ref>

==== Prague ====
A Prague production premiered on 12 October 2019 at [[Divadlo Komedie]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/bowie-lives-pragues-hottest-ticket-is-a-multilingual-lazarus | title=Bowie lives: Prague's hottest ticket is a multilingual Lazarus | date=16 November 2019 }}</ref>

==== 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.<ref name="playbill2018">{{cite web |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |date=7 December 2018 |title=David Bowie's ''Lazarus'' is Bound for Amsterdam |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/david-bowies-lazarus-is-bound-for-amsterdam |accessdate=30 September 2019 |work=[[Playbill]] |place=New York}}</ref><ref name="deVolkskrant2019">{{cite web |date=3 June 2019 |title=Noortje Herlaar speelt hoofdrol in Bowie-productie Lazarus |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/noortje-herlaar-speelt-hoofdrol-in-bowie-productie-lazarus~bffad5f2/ |accessdate=30 September 2019 |work=[[deVolkskrant]] |language=Dutch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Lazarus |url=https://www2.stage-entertainment.nl/nl/shows/musical/lazarus |accessdate= |website=stage-entertainment.nl |publisher=}}</ref>

== Musical numbers ==
''Lazarus'' features a number of songs from Bowie's back catalogue as well as four new tracks ("[[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]", "No Plan", "Killing a Little Time", "When I Met You").<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/david-bowies-lazarus-musical-song-titles-revealed-71997 | title=David Bowie's ''Lazarus'' musical: song titles revealed
| date=8 December 2015 | access-date=19 January 2016 | journal=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] | first=Michael | last=Bonner}}</ref>

* "Lazarus" - Newton
* "[[It's No Game|It’s No Game (Part 1)]]" - Japanese Woman, Newton, Teenage Girls
* "[[This Is Not America]]" - Teenage Girls, Girl
* "[[The Man Who Sold the World (song)|The Man Who Sold the World]]" - Michael
* "No Plan" - Girl
* "[[Love Is Lost]]" - Valentine, Teenage Girls
* "[[Changes (David Bowie song)|Changes]]" - Elly, Teenage Girls
* "[[Where Are We Now?]]" - Newton
* "[[Absolute Beginners (David Bowie song)|Absolute Beginners]]" - Newton, Elly, Valentine, Teenage Girls, Girl
* "Dirty Boys" - Valentine
* "Killing a Little Time" - Newton
* "[[Life on Mars (song)|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 (David Bowie song)|Valentine’s Day]]" - Valentine
* "When I Met You" - Newton, Teenage Girl 1
* "[[Heroes (David Bowie song)|Heroes]]" - Newton, Marley

==Original cast recording==
On 21 October 2016, the original cast recording, ''[[Lazarus (soundtrack)|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.<ref name = "rollingstone2016">[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/david-bowies-parting-gift-inside-new-lazarus-soundtrack-117676/ "David Bowie’s Parting Gift: Inside New ‘Lazarus’ Soundtrack"], "[[Rolling Stone]]", San Francisco, 20 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2019.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37924467|title=Lazarus: David Bowie musical receives mixed reviews on London transfer|website=[[BBC]]|location=London, England|date=9 November 2016|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref>

[[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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/theater/review-david-bowie-songs-and-a-familiar-alien-in-lazarus.html|title=Review: David Bowie Songs and a Familiar Alien in 'Lazarus'|last=Brantley|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Brantley|date=8 December 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called the musical a "tour de force" and "theater at its finest."<ref name="RS2">{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=7 December 2015 |title=David Bowie's ''Lazarus'' Is Surrealistic Tour de Force |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-bowies-lazarus-is-surrealistic-tour-de-force-20151207 |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=New York City |publisher=Wenner Media LLC |access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref>

Among the negative reviews, Ann Trenemen of ''[[The Times]]'' called the play "pretentious rubbish" and "nonsense on stilts",<ref>{{cite news|first=Ann|last=Treneman|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/times2/theatre-lazarus-at-king-s-cross-theatre-n1-06lc89r79|title=Theatre: Lazarus at King's Cross Theatre, N1|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London, England|date=9 November 2016|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> while Dominic Cavendish of ''[[The Daily Telegraph|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".<ref>{{cite news|first=Dominic|last=Cavandish|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/lazarus-review--bowie-musical-lands-in-london-but-does-it-really/|title=Lazarus review – Bowie musical lands in London, but does it really make the grade?|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group]]|location=London, England|date=8 November 2016|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
===Original Off-Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:45%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Outcome
|-
| rowspan="11" style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| rowspan="3"| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical|Outstanding Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Michael C. Hall]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical|Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical]]
| Brian Ronan
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Projection Design|Outstanding Projection Design]]
| Tal Yarden
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama League Award]]s
| Distinguished Performance
| Michael C. Hall
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[Outer Critics Circle Award]]s
| colspan="2"| Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
| [[Enda Walsh]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
| [[Michael Esper]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
| [[Sophia Anne Caruso]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical)
| Tal Yarden
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Lucille Lortel Awards]]
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
| Michael C. Hall
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
| Sophia Anne Caruso
| {{nom}}
|}

===Original West End production===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award ceremony
! style="width:45%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| 2017
| rowspan="4"| [[WhatsOnStage Awards]]
| Best Actor in a Musical
| Michael C. Hall
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
| Amy Lennox
| {{nom}}
|-
| Sophia Anne Caruso
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Video Design
| Tal Yarden
| {{nom}}
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}

{{David Bowie}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2015 musicals]]
[[Category:Fiction about alien visitations]]
[[Category:David Bowie]]
[[Category:Jukebox musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on novels]]
[[Category:Off-Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Science fiction musicals]]
[[Category:Sequel plays]]

Latest revision as of 22:09, 21 November 2024

Lazarus
Off-Broadway promotional poster
MusicDavid Bowie
LyricsDavid Bowie
BookEnda Walsh
BasisThe Man Who Fell to Earth
by Walter Tevis
Productions

Director Ivo van Hove
Musical Director Henry Hey

Arranger Henry Hey

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 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]

Cast and characters

[edit]
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

[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]

Film

[edit]

A performance in London was recorded for a Lazarus film; the film was shown in New York for one night in May, 2018,[18] and was later livestreamed worldwide online in January, 2021 for the fifth anniversary of David Bowie's death.[19]

International productions

[edit]

Denmark

[edit]

The first Danish production of Lazarus opened 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.[20] The production re-opened at the Royal Danish Playhouse, Copenhagen on January 21, 2022.[21]

Prague

[edit]

A Prague production premiered on 12 October 2019 at Divadlo Komedie.[22]

Amsterdam

[edit]

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.[23][24][25]

Musical numbers

[edit]

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").[26]

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.[27] 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.[28]

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."[29] Rolling Stone called the musical a "tour de force" and "theater at its finest."[30]

Among the negative reviews, Ann Trenemen of The Times called the play "pretentious rubbish" and "nonsense on stilts",[31] 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".[32]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Original Off-Broadway production

[edit]
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

[edit]
Year Award ceremony Category Nominee Result
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

References

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  1. ^ Adams, Char. "Bowie's final public appearance". People. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Mayor's Office Declares Wednesday 'David Bowie Day'". CBS Local – New York. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. ^ "David Bowie's Lazarus Musical Records Cast Album". Playbill. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Lazarus album". Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  5. ^ Kurutz, Steven (16 January 2016). "David Bowie: Invisible New Yorker". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Lazarus". Lortel.org. 17 December 2021.
  7. ^ Larson, Sarah (11 January 2016). "Ground Control: Bowie, Off Broadway". The New Yorker. New York. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  8. ^ Holland, Eric (6 January 2016). "Producer Tony Visconti Talks David Bowie and Blackstar". Hollandude.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  9. ^ Dizon, Jan (13 January 2016). "Off-Broadway Play Lazarus Is David Bowie's Swan Song". Tech Times. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  10. ^ Clement, Olivia (7 December 2015). "David Bowie's Lazarus Opens Off-Broadway Tonight". Playbill.com. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  11. ^ "New York Declares 'David Bowie Day' as Final Play Ends". movies.ndtv.com. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  12. ^ Clement, Olivia (7 October 2015). "Tickets to David Bowie's Lazarus Sell Out Within Hours". Playbill.com. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  13. ^ "David Bowie musical Lazarus to open in London". BBC. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  14. ^ Longman, Will (15 September 2016). "Full cast announced for David Bowie's Lazarus". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  15. ^ Shea, Christopher (25 July 2016). "Lazarus, a Musical by David Bowie and Enda Walsh, to Open in London". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  16. ^ Inman, Matt (25 April 2018). "Henry Hey on the Return of Lazarus and Working with David Bowie". Relix. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  17. ^ Lee, Ashley (25 July 2016). "It's Official: David Bowie's Lazarus Musical Sets London Run". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  18. ^ Seymour, Corey (2 May 2018). "David Bowie's Lazarus Rises Again in Brooklyn". Vogue. Retrieved 8 May 2018 – via MSN.com.
  19. ^ Kreps, Daneil (8 January 2021). "Watch London Production of David Bowie's 'Lazarus' in Honor of Icon's Birthday". Rolling Stone.
  20. ^ "Lazarus". www.aarhusteater.dk. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  21. ^ Sceneblog (22 January 2022). "LAZARUS // Skuespilhuset, Det Kongelige Teater". SCENEBLOG (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Bowie lives: Prague's hottest ticket is a multilingual Lazarus". 16 November 2019.
  23. ^ Hetrick, Adam (7 December 2018). "David Bowie's Lazarus is Bound for Amsterdam". Playbill. New York. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Noortje Herlaar speelt hoofdrol in Bowie-productie Lazarus". deVolkskrant (in Dutch). 3 June 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  25. ^ "Lazarus". stage-entertainment.nl.
  26. ^ Bonner, Michael (8 December 2015). "David Bowie's Lazarus musical: song titles revealed". Uncut. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  27. ^ "David Bowie’s Parting Gift: Inside New ‘Lazarus’ Soundtrack", "Rolling Stone", San Francisco, 20 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Lazarus: David Bowie musical receives mixed reviews on London transfer". BBC. London, England. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  29. ^ Brantley, Ben (8 December 2015). "Review: David Bowie Songs and a Familiar Alien in 'Lazarus'". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  30. ^ Grow, Kory (7 December 2015). "David Bowie's Lazarus Is Surrealistic Tour de Force". Rolling Stone. New York City: Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  31. ^ Treneman, Ann (9 November 2016). "Theatre: Lazarus at King's Cross Theatre, N1". The Times. London, England. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  32. ^ Cavandish, Dominic (8 November 2016). "Lazarus review – Bowie musical lands in London, but does it really make the grade?". The Telegraph. London, England: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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