David Bowie to release new songs in upcoming theater project 'Lazarus'

NEW YORK, April 2 (UPI) -- David Bowie is set to debut a new off-Broadway production based on the alien film he once starred in, The Man Who Fell To Earth, during the 2015-16 season at the New York Theater Workshop.

Tony Award-winning playwright Enda Walsh and Bowie, 68, will co-write "Lazarus" which will feature new songs by the singer and reproduced versions of old songs from the 1976 film.

Although he will not be performing during this production, Bowie is familiar with theater since the last time he was on stage he spent three months in 1980 playing the lead role in "The Elephant Man" on Broadway.

The artistic director of the New York Theater Workshop, James C. Nicola, had a hard time explaining what category this production falls under. He told the New York Times, "It's going to be a play with characters and songs -- I'm calling it music theater, but I don't really know what it's going to be like."

An opening date has not been announced yet.