Al Pereira/Getty ImagesLeave it to former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne to turn the life of martyr Joan of Arc into a musical, but that’s just what he hopes to do.
It wasn’t exactly “Burnin Down the House” but Joan of Arc was burned at the stake at the age of 19 for her unwavering support of Church and King in 15th century France.
Byrne explains in a statement on his website, “Why has this story endured over centuries and been made into so many plays and movies? Because it’s about someone — a nobody, a teenage girl — who inspired others to act, to overthrow their oppressors and take charge of their lives.”
Byrne has already written the music for the show which is due to premiere next spring at New York City’s Public Theater. This isn’t his first foray into the theatre. In 2013 Byrne presented a stage adaptation of Here Lives Love, an album he did with Fatboy Slim. Two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers, who also directed Here Lies Love, is set to take the helm for this one, too.
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