Grammy and Tony award-winning artist Duncan Sheik has signed on to compose the music and lyrics for the highly anticipated stage musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ landmark satire American Psycho. Sheik’s score will channel the spirit of the 1980s alongside celebrated hits from the era, and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is set to write the book.

Ellis’ 1991 novel, American Psycho, explores the designer lifestyle and twisted mind of Patrick Bateman, a young and handsome Wall Street investment banker in 1980s Manhattan.  Bateman’s days are driven by his obsessive and over-the-top materialism; by night, his mask of sanity slips away as he descends into a chilling indulgence in drugs, prostitution and murder.

American Psycho, which shocked the nation and defined the dark side of the 1980s, has sold over 1.6 million copies worldwide, and has since been recognized as a contemporary classic. The novel was adapted into an acclaimed feature film in 2000.

Duncan Sheik is no stranger to risky subject matter, having composed the music for Spring Awakening, the hit rock musical adaptation of the controversial 1891 German play of the same name.  For his work, Sheik was honored with two Tony Awards—for Best Orchestration and Best Original Score (Music)—while the show itself was recognized as Best Musical. Additionally, Sheik received a Grammy in 2008 for Spring Awakening’s original cast recording, and was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his hit 1996 single “Barely Breathing.”

Sheik said, “I am very excited to begin working on the stage version of American Psycho with playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and the producing team.  After re-reading Bret Easton Ellis’ book this summer I came to feel that what some people (including myself) may have seen as an over-the-top literary folly of the early nineties was in fact a pretty timeless tale of alienation and solipsism in a world where commercialism rules everything and art is only valued for it’s surfaces.  And, really, what could be more subversive fun than murderous bankers breaking into song?”

Sacasa is currently writing on HBO’s Emmy-nominated hit series BIG LOVE starring Bill Paxton. His stage plays include Based on a Totally True Story, Bloody Mary, Rough Magic, Dark Matters, Good Boys and True, The Mystery Plays, and Say You Love Satan.
Ellis commented, “I am a huge fan of Duncan and Roberto and am excited to be collaborating with them.  I trust their creative vision of my book and know they will deliver a memorable show to all American Psycho fans and beyond.”

The Johnson-Roessler Company’s David Johnson, Craig Roessler and Jesse Singer are producing alongside The Collective’s Aaron Ray and XYZ Films’ Nate Bolotin.  Ellis and Edward R. Pressman will serve as consulting producers.