International HEDWIG Star Sven Ratzke to Debut Bowie-Inspired STARMAN at Joe's Pub

Sven Ratzke -- the transgressive European Entertainer Extraordinaire -- will celebrate the New York debut of his international hit show STARMAN at Joe's Pub at the Public for three shows only from May 23-26.

Inspired by the iconic musician and songwriter David Bowie, the program combines many of the artist's famous numbers such as "Space Oddity," "Rebel Rebel," "Heroes," and "Rock and Roll Suicide" with album deep cuts and inspired original songs by Ratzke and Rachelle Garniez. More than a mere tribute show, STARMAN is a one-man rock musical with unique characters and bold reinventions of glam rock classics.

Ratzke's previous New York evenings have been a "Critic's Pick" by Time Out New York and he was called "a must-see" by New York Press. Charly Zastrau, Ratzke's longtime collaborator, serves as music director. The studio concept recording STARMAN with special guest Joey Arias is available from Challenge Records International.

STARMAN received raves when it opened in Berlin last year. The New York debut of STARMAN follows a 30-city sold-out tour through Holland, ending with an extensive run in Amersterdam; Munich, Berlin and other destinations throughout Germany; as well as Zurich, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. This the summer he will take the show to Australia, including the Syndey Opera House and stops in Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Tasmania, followed by a month-long stint at the 500-seat Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. Ratzke was recently invited onto the highly-rated Dutch TV show "RTL Late Night" to perform "Heroes" and "Rebel Rebel" to honor Bowie's passing.

Ratzke is internationally-recognized for the title role in the first-ever Berlin production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. John Cameron Mitchell, the musical's creator and the original star, declared "Sven is the best Hedwig I've ever seen." After its smash run in Berlin at the Admiralspalast, Ratzke brought the show to Utrecht and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Basel and Vienna. Ratzke's Hedwig returns to Berlin in October and travels to Hamburg in November.

SVEN RATZKE crosses musical genres and traverses decades with panache and a unique style that blends high culture with elements of glam rock, classic Weimar cabaret with vaudeville. The Netherlands-based entertainer tours the world's biggest theaters, festivals and nightclubs from sold-out shows at Lincoln Center in New York and the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to the famous Berliner Ensemble in Berlin. He has released five albums and has worked with legends of the European arts world such as Nina Hagen, Hanna Schygulla, and The Tiger Lilies. For more, visit www.Sven-Ratzke.com.

SVEN RATZKE will perform STARMAN at JOE'S PUB at The Public on Monday, May 23 at 9:30 PM; Tuesday, May 24 at 7:30 PM; and Thursday, May 26 at 9:30 PM. The venue is located at 425 Lafayette Street (between East 4th and Astor Place) NYC, adjacent to The Public Theater. For tickets -- which cost $20 -- call (212) 967-7555 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM or visit JoesPub.com, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street from 2:00 PM daily. There is a $12 food / two (2) drink minimum per person per show, unless otherwise noted.

Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub consistently presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop original theater works. Commissioned artists have included Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.