The eyes of Tammy Faye are going to be back upon us all this October with the debut of a brand new musical, Tammy Faye.
The televangelist became an unlikely gay ally in the ’80s, as she showed public kindness and empathy to HIV/AIDS patients that was uncharacteristic of folks in her religious field.
Sir Elton John is scoring the upcoming show, which is set to premiere in his native London. For even more gay spice, Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters will be the show’s lyricist. A kiki all around!
Related: Michael Showalter stares into ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ and resurrects an icon
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Tammy Faye re-entered the public conversation last year with Michael Showalter’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which saw Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield taking on the roles of Tammy Faye Messner and husband Jim Bakker respectively.
The film was equal parts camp and drama, with enough intrigue (and prosthetics) to earn Chastain an Oscar for Best Actress.
The mixture of melodramatics, interpersonal twists and turns, and hallelujah-filled worship songs all really lends itself to a musical perfectly.
Rupert Goold, artistic director of the Almeida theatre and Tammy Faye show director, seems to be of the same mindset.
“It was a bizarre, baroque, almost operatic life story,” he tells The Guardian. “She’s at times kitsch, at times sentimental, but basically a very empathic figure.”
Related: Looks Like Britney Spears Is Making a Comeback With a Duet With Elton John
He also thinks that her story as an accepting Christian figure is one that is important to be seen today.
“We’re in a really interesting time regarding faith and belief, with the repealing of Roe v Wade in various [US] states and the return of the idea of faith-based morality or legislation. There is talk that that may move towards gay marriage and parenting, and there’ll be a policing of civil liberties and people’s bodies. And it’s not without resonances over here.
“So although Tammy Faye is a historic story, and looks really at the birth of the prosperity gospel, it has something politically to say now.”
Sir Elton hasn’t posted anything about the project to Instagram just yet, although we’re sure he will soon. He did just post another teaser about his upcoming collaboration with Britney Spears, which drops on Friday.
Check it out…
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bachy
As he ages, Elton’s ongoing creativity – and increasing generosity of spirit – is inspiring.
Ronbo
Yes, when Elton was young he cancelled mulitiple gigs to perform at Rush Limbaugh’s second or third or fourth wedding. He didn’t allow dirty money and bigotry to bother him then. It’s inspiring as a deathbed conversion.
“I don’t want to be married,” John said in 2005 when he and David Furnish tied the knot in a civil partnership ceremony. “If gay people want to get married or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word ‘marriage,’ I think, puts a lot of people off.” What a HERO?!?!
Terrycloth
They played quiet a bit of the Elton John Brittany Spears record on CBS mornings..imo awful heavily autotuned.
JTinToronto
Of course it was autotuned to death, it’s Britney Spears. She couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.
Jim
Both Britany and Elton need a career boost.
However, would love to see the Tammy Faye musical
Mr. Stadnick
Why?
whitenoiz
He just had a hit with a duet with current pop tart. (Can you call a non-binary a “tart”?) Why not try to repeat the magic?
humble charlie
with elton as tammy faye! “THE MASCARA OF LIFE!”