Great Performances

Sting: The Last Ship

For the last several years, rock & roll Renaissance man Sting has been working on a new musical play titled "The Last Ship." Featuring new and original music and lyrics by Sting, the project is a collaboration with Tony-winning book writer John Logan ("Red," "Skyfall" screenplay) and will be directed by Tony-winner Joe Mantello of "Wicked." "The Last Ship" opened in Chicago this spring, with a fall 2014 Broadway debut. Exploring a range of universal themes including transgression, redemption and the complexity of relationships over the passage of time, "The Last Ship" tells the story of the demise of the ship building industry in 1980s Newcastle, which for so long had shaped and overshadowed the city's development and community. Having grown up in the literal shadow of the shipyard, Sting was deeply inspired by the subject and has written more than 40 songs for the project. This program is a special concert staging of songs from the musical, performed by Sting and some of the play's cast, recorded in fall 2013 at New York's Public Theater.