Jake Shears, who can currently be seen on the Los Angeles stage in Bent, is at work with another musical theater-inclined rock star! In a recent interview with The Advocate, the Scissor Sisters front man revealed that he is collaborating with Elton John on a new musical, the details of which he can’t yet reveal.
Bent, currently playing at the Mark Taper Forum, marks Shears’ stage debut. He previously penned the score for the musical adaptation of Tales of the City. He also wrote songs for the upcoming P.T. Barnum movie musical The Greatest Showman on Earth, starring Hugh Jackman.
John, whose life will be told on stage in a forthcoming bio-musical, won a Tony Award for the score of Aida. In addition to his numerous classic rock hits, his film and stage credits include The Lion King (which won him an Oscar for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”), Billy Elliot and Lestat.
In the interview, Shears referred to a certain East German transgender rock goddess when discussing writing for theater: “It’s like Hedwig. There’s a character that’s just fleshed out over an entire show…everyone’s got their own Hedwig inside of them.” If he needs a break from songwriting, we wouldn’t mind seeing him in pumps and fishnets after Taye Diggs.