Tony Winner John Doyle Will Direct New Musical Based on Life and Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat

eastcoasttheatre said: "Maybe but his color purple was something to behold"



I beheld it twice. And I stand by my statement. I would say, rather, that Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks, and Heather Headley's Color Purple was something to behold.

JBroadway said: "A musical about Basquiat - a painter whose work is known for its radical, in-your-face, explosions of color and shapes - is being directed by John Doyle? King of drabness and emptiness? "

The concerns are valid. This could go either way, obviously. Since he was known for lots of color in his artwork, it would be very easy for the creative team to create a big colorful musical which would be the wrong way to go, I think. Basquiat had a lot of darkness around and within him from his drug addiction to the grittiness of the life he was living in New York to the beginning of the AIDS epidemic which would kill some of his contemporaries to the realities of living in Reagan’s America. Plus, he died (like so many artists) before he really got to really appreciate his success. So maybe a director who can create a more nuanced, muted landscape for Basquiat’s art to shine against is exactly what is needed.

One of my main concerns is how the book is crafted. Since he came out of the same moment as Keith Haring and Madonna (his girlfriend at the beginning of his career), it would be too easy to create a spectacle where we are expected to be wowed by the next person playing a celebrity he crossed paths with. He deserves a musical that lives up to the realities of his life and art.

I also am hoping they create a score that is just as challenging and cutting-edge as his art. If it’s set up with big Broadway pop songs, I think they’ll miss the mark.

Fingers crossed! This could be awesome.

will this be a Sweeney Todd/Company Doyle-version with the actors playing instruments? Or a Color Purple Doyle-type striped down version?

Oy. Whenever Doyle's name is mentioned, there's always such a boring deluge of 10 people who can't wait to complain. He has a career (for good reason) and will keep working, so get over it.

Love Basquiat. Love Doyle. Musicals about artists are tricky but I wish them luck.