First LAZARUS Performance Since Bowie's Passing Brings Tears to Audience Members

Last night marked the first performance of David Bowie's musical LAZARUS since his passing on Sunday at the age of 69. The show, currently running at the New York Theatre Workshop, features 18 songs, including such Bowie classics as "Changes," ''Heroes," ''Absolute Beginners" and "Life on Mars". Songs taken from the rocker's latest album 'Blackstar' are also performed.

While The Associated Press reports that castmembers did not acknowledge the composer's death or make any adjustments to the show, fans found themselves deeply moved to be a part of the theatrical experience so soon after Bowie's passing.

Said audience member Evan Schwartz, "It was incredible. I wept a lot. It was beautiful." It was the 20-year-old student's second time seeing the show.

Another audience member, Roberta Bethencourt, shared that she has been a fan of Bowie's music since she was 12-years-old. "I used to go to the library, and, when other kids were getting books, I was getting 'Space Oddity' and bringing it home and playing it over and over again," she explained. "I had no idea what an impact he had on so many people. I loved him because he was so different and unique."

Fans also left flowers near the 200-seat theater's lobby entrance, where a video screen displayed a photo of the musician with the words: "In Memoriam, 1947-2016."

The cast of Lazarus includes Golden Globe winner and six-time Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall(Hedwig and the Angry Inch, "Dexter") as Thomas Newton, Tony Award nominee Cristin Milioti(Once) as Elly, and Michael Esper (The Last Ship) as Valentine, as well as Krystina Alabado(American Idiot),Sophia Anne Caruso (The Nether), Nicholas Christopher (Whorl Inside A Loop), Lynn Craig (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Bobby Moreno (Year of the Rooster), Krista Pioppi (Spring Awakening Nat'l Tour), Charlie Pollock (The Wild Party), and Brynn Williams (Bye Bye Birdie).

The show began previews on November 18th and officially opened on December 7, 2015, and will run through January 17th. Bowie wrote the musical alongside ONCE playwright Enda Walsh as a sequel to the 1963 novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis that inspired the 1976 film of the same name that Bowie starred in. Ivo van Hove directs the production.

Watch Cristin Milioti sings David Bowie's "Changes" from Lazazus below:

Source: THR

Photo Credit: Jan Versweyveld