David Bowie - Lazarus
Lazarus is a musical with music and lyrics composed by David Bowie, and a book written by Enda Walsh. First performed at the end of 2015, it was one of the last works Bowie completed before his death on 10 January 2016. The musical is inspired by the 1963 novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis. Bowie previously starred in the 1976 film adaptation of the same name, directed by Nicolas Roeg.
Look up here, I'm in heaven
I've got scars that can't be seen
I've got drama, can't be stolen
Everybody knows me now
Look up here, man, I'm in danger
I've got nothing left to lose
I'm so high it makes my brain whirl
Dropped my cell phone down below
Ain't that just like me?
By the time I got to New York
I was living like a king
There I'd used up all my money
I was looking for your ass
This way or no way
You know, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird
Now, ain't that just like me?
Oh, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird
Oh, I'll be free
Ain't that just like me?
The otherworldly stage musical Lazarus, built around the songs of David Bowie, began previews at the East Village's New York Theatre Workshop in November 2015, and officially opened on December 7. Just over a month later, on January 10, the world learned that Bowie had died: Lazarus and the album Blackstar (released on Bowie's birthday, January 8) would be the rock icon's final artistic offerings. But whereas anyone could listen to the album, Lazarus was seen by very few; NYTW seats only 199 people, and the production's entire two-month run had sold out within hours of tickets going on sale.
This week, to mark the fifth anniversary of Bowie's death, Lazarus is rising again. From Friday, January 8, through Sunday, January 10, a filmed version of the show will be available for streaming online. The recording captures the musical's 2016 mounting at London's King's Cross Theatre. As in New York, the central role of Newton—an older version of the alien played by Bowie in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth—is portrayed by Michael C. Hall (Dexter), who is joined by his NYC costars Sophia Anne Caruso (Beetlejuice) and Michael Esper (American Idiot).
A detailed look at Bowie's last albums, `The Next Day' and `Blackstar', and his play `Lazarus'. In his final five years, Bowie not only began producing music again, but returned to the core and defining themes of his career.
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