Basquiat musical in development for Broadway

With music from multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste.

September 26, 2018
Basquiat musical in development for Broadway A portrait of US artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is pictured, 19 September 2006 in Milan, on the eve of the opening of 'The Jean-Michel Basquiat Show.'   FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty

The life and art of Jean-Michel Basquiat are to be turned into a stage musical, Deadline reports. The music and lyrics to the production have been written by Jon Batiste, a musician currently seen as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Producers Alan D. and Barbara Marks have access to Basquiat’s art and personal archives.

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In a statement, Batiste said, “I want people to leave this show inspired to create. I want them to not only learn about Jean-Michel Basquiat, an innovator, but to also feel the visceral thrill of the creative process and to deepen and discover their own creativity.”

A title and launch date for the musical remain unconfirmed.

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Basquiat musical in development for Broadway