David Bowie to turn ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ into an off-Broadway musical with Enda Walsh

NEW YORK, N.Y. – David Bowie will be the latest rock star throwing his hat in the musical theatre ring.

The New York Theatre Workshop said Thursday that Bowie will team up with “Once” playwright Enda Walsh to create the musical “Lazarus” this winter.

The show is inspired by Walter Tevis’ 1963 novel, “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” which was adapted into a 1976 film starring Bowie. The new musical will have new and old Bowie songs.

Other rock and pop stars have written musicals with mixed results. Cyndi Lauper won a Tony Award for “Kinky Boots,” but Sting couldn’t save his “The Last Ship.” For every Elton John, who found success with “The Lion King,” there is U2’s Bono and The Edge, who were battered by “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.”