Paul Nolan to Lead Flaming Lips Musical Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Paul Nolan will star in Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, the upcoming musical from Grammy-winning rock group The Flaming Lips, according to The Globe and Mail. Directed by Des McAnuff, the musical will run at California's La Jolla Playhouse from November 6 through December 16, and is eyeing a subsequent New York run. The show will feature music and lyrics by The Flaming Lips and a story by Wayne Coyne (the group's lead singer and guitarist) and McAnuff.  Nolan will play a graphic artist named Ben Nickel. No further casting has been announced at this time.

Inspired the Flaming Lips' 2002 album of the same name, the musical tells the story of Yoshimi, a young Japanese artist facing the battle of her life: the battle for her life. Adrift from her family and lover, Yoshimi journeys alone into a fantastical robot-world where she wages a war with fate. Will her will to survive be powerful enough to master the evil forces that threaten to destroy her?

Nolan recently made his Broadway debut as the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar. His credits at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival include The Grapes of Wrath, As You Like It, West Side Story and King Lear.

Click below to watch The Flaming Lips' music video of the album's title song!