Chris writes song for musical

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Dipso · #1 Post by **Dipso** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 4:13 pm

Hmm, very curious.

http://www.whatsonstage.com/dl/page.php ... 1155205985

Exclusive: Pet Shop Lowe's Song for Fully Cast Bent

Chris Lowe of techno/dance pop duo The Pet Shop Boys has written a new song for Daniel Kramer’s upcoming revival of Martin Sherman’s 1978 play Bent, which opens at the West End’s Trafalgar Studios on 5 October 2006 (previews from 22 September), and is now fully cast (See News, 14 Jul 2006).

The Pet Shop Boys, consisting of Lowe and Neil Tennant, have had 38 top 40 singles in the UK - including four number ones, "West End Girls", "It's a Sin", "Always on my Mind" and "Heart" - since 1986. The Pet Shop Boys’ latest album, “Fundamental”, was released on 22 May 2006 and reached number five in the UK album charts.

Lowe is no stranger to writing for the stage, as a musical featuring 15 new Pet Shop Boys tracks, Closer to Heaven, co-written with the duo and Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing), ran at the West End’s Arts Theatre for five months in 2001. Lowe’s song for Bent, which has lyrics by Sherman, is the only song in the play, although the drama will also feature some classical incidental music.

Meanwhile, casting for Bent is now complete. Joining the previously announced Alan Cumming, Richard Bremmer, Hugh Ross, Kevin Trainor, Benjamin Wilkin, Ricky Champ, Charles Mayer, Matthew Spencer and Laurence Spellman, is Chris New, who has just graduated from RADA and will make his debut in the piece.

In Nazi Germany, homosexual Max (Alan Cumming) is sent to Dachau, his lover killed en route. At the concentration camp, he denies being gay, preferring to wear the yellow star of the Jews, but when he falls in love with fellow prisoner Horst, he must make a stand. Chris New will star as Horst.

Producer Sonia Friedman said: "Obviously it is a risk to give a leading role to an actor who is making their professional stage debut but Daniel (Kramer, Director) and Martin (Sherman, writer) met with Chris several times. They knew it would be hard to convince me to offer Chris the part, however I eventually met him and saw him audition for the role and he was mind-blowingly good. I knew at that point I had lost my argument!"

Bent was first seen in London in 1979 at the Royal Court, starring Ian McKellen and transferring to the West End. The 1980 Broadway premiere was led by Richard Gere as Max, a part played by Clive Owen in the 1997 film, which had music by Philip Glass. Kramer’s revival of Bent is designed by Robin Don with costumes by Mark Bouman. It’s presented by Sonia Friedman Productions, Mark Rubinstein and Tulbart Productions.

Suburban_Boy · #2 Post by **Suburban_Boy** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 6:02 pm

Interesting news. I wasn't even aware the play was being revived, so thanks for that.

It's been a really busy year for Neil & Chris hasn't it!?! Good to see Chris getting involved in stuff seperately from Neil.

Lee

Twoism · #3 Post by **Twoism** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 6:16 pm

Suburban_Boy wrote:Interesting news. I wasn't even aware the play was being revived, so thanks for that.

It's been a really busy year for Neil & Chris hasn't it!?! Good to see Chris getting involved in stuff seperately from Neil.

Lee

They're splitting up, it'll be a Lowe Solo album next

DJAMIX · #4 Post by **DJAMIX** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 6:59 pm

I like the "Fundamental reached number 5 on UK album chart" bit.

Pani · #5 Post by **Pani** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 7:15 pm

DJAMIX wrote:I like the "Fundamental reached number 5 on UK album chart" bit.

Me too. I also like the 'techno duo' bit ...

Interesting story btw. Thanx for posting this.

Mr Madness · #6 Post by **Mr Madness** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 11:00 pm

Twoism wrote:
They're splitting up, it'll be a Lowe Solo album next

And the perfect title for such an album would be "So-lowe"

Dipso · #7 Post by **Dipso** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 1:21 am

Mr Madness wrote:
Twoism wrote:
They're splitting up, it'll be a Lowe Solo album next

And the perfect title for such an album would be "So-lowe"

That's so bad it's brilliant!

Naughty Zoot · #8 Post by **Naughty Zoot** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 3:29 am

This is wonderful news. Glad to see Chris getting some press on his own - unlike his involvement with Blockhead on the Cafe Mambo CDs.

Congrats Chris & I hope the revival is a success.

synthpopfan · #9 Post by **synthpopfan** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 4:39 am

Suburban_Boy wrote:It's been a really busy year for Neil & Chris hasn't it!?!

You know? One thing I've noticed is that the Boys almost always have something released each year. Be it songs for other people, remasters (CDs/DVDs), remixes for other people, etc, etc...

One of the coolest things about being a fan of PSB, is that for every album they release, they usually have at least a half a dozen b-sides and 'other tracks' tucked away on singles and what-not.

What other band of this caliber can claim such a prolific career? I honestly cannot thing of one who can easily match what I've stated above.

To me, the Boys are one of the busiest groups in current contemporary (if not all of) music.

*Sigh* Isn't it absolutely, f*cking fantastic to be a Pethead?

glennjridge · #10 Post by **glennjridge** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 5:18 am

Mr Madness wrote:
Twoism wrote:
They're splitting up, it'll be a Lowe Solo album next

And the perfect title for such an album would be "So-lowe"

that would be perfect!

Darkmoon · #11 Post by **Darkmoon** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 10:34 am

Or depending on the results it could always be called "So-low"

profile790 · #12 Post by **profile790** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 10:47 am

I always find it nice to hear that both Neil and Chris also do some side projects outside PSB. Chris with this musical track, and in the past with the Blockhead track and the song for Ian Wright, Neil with production, backing vocals, Electronic etc... - Good, good. I look forward to hearing this song.

psb-freak · #13 Post by **psb-freak** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 11:08 am

YIPEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fab news.

Hillbilly · #14 Post by **Hillbilly** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 12:41 pm

Typical it's got to have a gay story, just like "Closer to Heaven"... PSB will forever remain a "gay" act if they continue with this kind of stuff.

"So Lowe", that's a good title actually...

stew · #15 Post by **stew** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 1:54 pm

very itersting!

we will have to hear these tracks asap!!!