Sting's musical The Last Ship heading to Broadway
Show inspired by memories of U.K. shipbuilding industry's decline
The Last Ship, the stage musical by Grammy-winning musician Sting, is Broadway-bound.
Producers announced today that the show is heading to Manhattan for fall 2014, following its premiere in Chicago in June.
The musical is based on Sting's own memories of growing up near Wallsend in northeast England and of the community's shipbuilding industry. The Last Ship centres on a man from Wallsend who returns home, after more than a decade of travelling the world, to find his seafaring town's future in jeopardy when its shipyard is threatened with closure.
Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, has been working on the stage musical for the past few years alongside noted playwright Brian Yorkey and screenwriter-playwright John Logan.
The production is directed by Joe Mantello (Wicked) and features choreography by Steven Hoggett (Once). Details about dates, venue and casting have yet to be released.
The award-winning performer and former frontman for The Police has also recorded a new album titled The Last Ship, which was inspired by the musical and features performances by folk musicians of the area.
Set for release on Tuesday, the record marks his first full-length album of material in 10 years.
Sting is also slated to perform songs from the album and the musical during an upcoming concert series at The Public Theater in New York from Sept. 25 through Oct. 9.
With files from The Associated Press