Sting and Brian Yorkey, the man who wrote the book and lyrics for Next to Normal, are working on a musical together, with some early readings of the show scheduled to take place in October. The musical will be set in eighties Newcastle, where Sting grew up. Rolling Stone is saying it will be based on his 1991 album Soul Cages; the music, however, will be new. The Times reports Sting has already written “a couple dozen, maybe 20, 24, amazing new songs for the show.†The show’s main character is the thirtysomething Gideon, “Charismatic, charming, cynical, worldly-wise; quick to buy a round or throw a fist, slow to open his heart. Grew up around the shipyards of Newcastle, got out as soon as he could, coming home to come to terms with his family, his history, and his future.†Though Gideon may not be a rock star, presumably he’s the Sting stand-in: Certainly Gideon is similar to, but much cooler than, Sting’s real name, the unfortunate Gordon. May Sting have better luck than Bono (and Paul Simon)! [ArtsBeat/NYT]