Previews begin Nov. 18 at New York Theatre Workshop, with Dec. 7 planned as opening night. The Off-Broadway production is inspired by Walter Tevis' best-selling 1963 novel "The Man Who Fell to Earth," and will be directed by Obie winner Ivo Van Hove, who returns to NYTW following his acclaimed staging of Scenes From a Marriage. Hall was last seen at NYTW in a workshop of Stephen Sondheim’s Wise Guys, a show later retitled Road Show.
Lazarus centers on the character of Thomas Jerome Newton, portrayed by Bowie in the 1976 screen adaptation directed by Nicolas Roeg. "The Man Who Fell To Earth" tells the story of human-looking alien who comes to Earth seeking a way to bring water back to his home planet that is slowly dying from an epic and disastrous drought. The story may have an unusual degree of contemporary relevance in light of water restrictions recently imposed on drought-stricken California.
The NYTW production will feature songs specially composed by Bowie as well as new arrangements of previously recorded songs.
Lazarus joins the previously announced world premiere of Sibyl Kempson's Fondly, Collette Richland for the upcoming NYTW season. John Collins will direct this production featuring compositions played live by Mike Iveson. The new work is described thus: "Mr. and Mrs. 'Fritz' Fitzhubert are at home in a wintry town in everyday America when they are summoned through a wee little secret door in their living room. On the other side, they find themselves in an Alpen hotel populated by mysterious employees, guests and relatives who coax them into souvenir shopping, perilous hikes and, ultimately, the assumption of ancient identities. When eventually they return home from this phantasmagorical world, they find their lives forever altered." New York Theatre Workshop's 2015-16 season will kick off in September with the world premiere of Fondly, Collette Richland, a new play by NYTW’s Obie and Lortel award-winning company-in-residence Elevator Repair Service, written by Sibyl Kempson and directed by ERS Artistic Director John Collins. The New York premiere of Red Speedo, written by Lucas Hnath (The Christians) and directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz (Hollow Roots), will begin performances in February. The 2015/16 season will conclude with the world premiere of a new folk opera, Hadestown, by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell. Hadestown was developed with and will be directed by Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), and will begin performances in May 2016.
A variety of membership packages are now available for the 2015-16 season at NYTW.org or by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200.
