David Bowie Teams Up With Tony Winner Enda Walsh for Stage Adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth Off-Broadway

David Bowie is co-writing a stage adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth called Lazarus. The icon is working with Tony winner Enda Walsh (Once) on the new piece, which will be directed by Ivo van Hove. It will receive its world premiere later this year as part of New York Theater Workshop’s upcoming season.

Lazurus is inspired by the 1963 novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis and centers on the character of Thomas Newton, the alcoholic alien-turned-inventor portrayed by Bowie in the 1976 cult screen adaptation directed by Nicolas Roeg. The play will feature a mix of old and new songs by Bowie.

Bowie will not appear in the production, although he is no stranger to the theater—he made his Broadway debut in The Elephant Man in 1980. Lazarus has reportedly been in development for a number of years.