Black Francis Rock Opera Coming This Fall

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Sep 24, 2010

A new rock opera based upon Black Francis's 2007 album Bluefinger is set to open in Houston, TX this November. The Catastrophic Theatre's Bluefinger: The Fall and Rise of Herman Brood - set to open November 12 - focuses on Francis's concept album about the life and death of Dutch performer Herman Brood, who leapt his death from the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton in 2001.

While Pixies frontman Francis was consulted about the project, he will not appear onstage for the performance. According to a press release, the piece will follow a non-linear narrative, bouncing between Brood's eccentric rock'n'roll-junkie lifestyle, which found him a bit of fame in the 1970s, while also re-enacting some of Francis's moments of inspiration.

The roles of both Francis and Brood will be filled by Texas musicians Michael Haaga and Matt Kelly, respectively, while two live bands have cherry-picked 20 selections between the artists' back catalogues to be performed during the play.

Bluefinger: The Fall and Rise of Herman Brood will be performed in the DiverseWorks Artspace in Houston from November 12 to December 18.

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