The brain of Radiohead, Thom Yorke is making his Broadway debut as the frontman composed an original score for the Roundabout Theater Company revival of Harold Pinter's 1971 play 'Old Times.' And the Broadway revival is slated in October at New York's American Airlines Theater.
Thom Yorke stated, "It's been a pleasure working with Doug on my first stage production," "I've enjoyed exploring through music the script's themes of love and memory as well as Pinter's rhythms, twists and turns."
Reportedly, during the six months of e-mail correspondence with director Douglas Hodge, Thom Yorke wrote the score in the Old Times play that includes, intro and exit music, along with transitions. That is how the duo collaborated to narrow down the sonic elements. And extensively, Thom Yorke worked with 1970s synthesizers in order to fit the era of the play.
Director Douglas Hodge said, "I'd say something like, 'It describes a ribbon of light on the horizon. Can you do that?' He'd say, 'Got it,'" Hodge also said, "He'd send me an e-mail of some music he'd written, and it would be some primeval, unusual thing. The sort of neurosis within his music certainly has elucidated elements of the compulsive repetition of the play."
Old Times featrures the veteran stage actor who won a 2010 Tony for his lead performance in La Cage aux Folles, Douglas Hodge directorial Broadway debut. And Hodge's Broadway debut will star Clive Owen, alongside Eve Best and Kelly Reilly. Douglas Hodge said that the vocalist of Radiohead, Thorke will not perform the compositions live, however, Hodge said, "The last thing he'd want is that it becomes a Thom Yorke show."
The prominent musicians that has been influential in Thom Yorke writing for Broadway plays and musicals, includes Cyndi Lauper (Kinky Boots), Sting (The Last Ship), Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanlij (This Is Our Youth), Branford Marsalis (The Mountaintop), Terence Blanchard (A Streetcar Named Desire), and Alicia Keys (Stick Fly).
The previews of Old Times will begin on September 17th, with the premiere October 6th and run until November 29th.
