Although "American Utopia" may have left Broadway, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne is planning a comeback with disco.
Although "American Utopia" by David Byrne has left Broadway, the Talking Heads frontman is planning a comeback with disco.
This summer, Byrne and Fatboy Slim intend to premiere their Broadway musical "Here Lies Love," which follows the life and times of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos.
It turned out that the former beauty queen-turned-wife dictator's loved to dance and frequently frequented discos in the 1970s. She even turned the roof of one of her Manila palaces into a nightclub.
In 2014, Byrne recalled thinking, "There's the soundtrack," according to The Associated Press.
The 90-minute play by Byrne, which follows Marcos' path from poverty to wealth and exile, was performed off-Broadway in 2013 and in a number of other places, including London in 2014 and the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2017.
Before it was transformed into a full-fledged theater production with 360-degree staging, the project started as a concept CD that was played in a few live concerts, including one at Carnegie Hall in 2007.
Timbers will be tasked with creating an immersive experience for the 1,763-seat Broadway Theatre this time. In a dance club setting, where viewers will stand and move with the players, he and choreographer Annie-B Parson "will change the venue's traditional proscenium floor space."
Imelda Staunton stars as a poor girl who becomes famous after winning a beauty pageant in the opening act of the upbeat, catchy musical. After a brief courtship, she marries Ferdinand Marcos, an aspiring politician, and future president.
Standing-only spectators roam around the stage with the 15 performers as the lyrics, which are largely excerpts from speeches or interviews from all sides during the Marcos era, are performed.
Before being forced into exile in Hawaii in 1986 as a result of a public uprising, the Marcoses controlled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, the final 14 years of which were spent under martial law. This left the nation's economy in dire straits due to massive debts. Imelda Marcos, at 93, has returned to her own country and entered politics since Ferdinand Marcos' passing in 1989. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., their son, is currently in office as president of the Philippines.
In order for you to comprehend why Imelda acts the way she does, Byrne said in 2014, "I wanted you to grasp a little bit what's inspiring Imelda, what's driving her, what her illusions are, but also what her grief is and what she loves."
Byrne, an art-rock pioneer, and singer of the well-known song "This ain't no party/This ain't no disco," claimed he had no animus against club music. He actually has been recorded by The O'Jays, The Spinners, and Donna Summer.
He claimed that by incorporating disco into "Here Lies Love," he was able to honor that genre of music while also having the freedom to create songs for other people that he otherwise wouldn't have.
Post a Comment