A musical production based on Jeff Buckley‘s life will retell the story of Romeo And Juliet and is currently in development, according to reports.
The Guardian says that The Last Goodybe, named after one of Buckley’s most popular songs, will be directed by Alex Timbers, with a series of workshops set to take place in New York in early 2013.
The production, which was conceived by Michael Kimmel, will use other Buckley songs such as “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” and “Eternal Life” to re-interpret William Shakespeare’s classic play, with rehearsal set to start in January next year.
Previously, Buckley’s mother Mary Gilbert said she was unsure about the project, but in 2010 revealed she had changed her mind after speaking to Kimmel. Speaking to the New York Times, she said: “Suddenly I felt that across centuries you had two kindred spirits talking about the same things – love, relationships, suffering, death. It was like having my eyes opened to Jeff’s music in a new light, a different and very natural light.”
The Last Goodybe is not the only theatrical production inspired by Buckley’s life – a biopic of the singer’s life titled Greetings From Tim Buckley received its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, although an official release date is yet to be revealed. To see a trailer for the film, which stars Gossip Girl actor Penn Badgley in the lead role, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click.
Jeff Buckley passed away in 1997 at the age of 30 after accidentally drowning in the Wolf River in Tennessee.