Queenstown singer and entertainer Margaret O'Hanlan and musician Martin Grounds announced this week they were staging a rock opera inspired by the Thin White Duke.
The musical will be at Revolver from October 28 to 30.
The first step towards the show, called Rock 'n' Roll Suicide, was to hold auditions in the venue on September 6, Ms O'Hanlan said.
"I've wanted to do this show for a long time and we did the tribute to Tom Waits in 2007. I've loved the music of David Bowie, but because of his style of music, we felt it had to be a lot more theatrical, so the idea of a rock opera came about the beginning of the year."
Actors sing the story of a young man who goes to London in 1969 to become a rock star. He becomes a success, but takes it too far and becomes self-destructive, she said.
There is no dialogue. The actors sing the plot through Bowie's lyrics. The show would contain adult themes.
Players are needed for the lead, his girlfriend and the lead's muse. A company of performers would be needed on stage singing the 24 songs selected, which include Changes, Fame, Golden Years and Ziggy Stardust, all played live by a six-piece Wakatipu band.
Ms O'Hanlan said she and Mr Grounds were seeking "12 excellent young singers who can dance" and she was keen to find talent which had not been discovered.
Ms O'Hanlan said she was discussing costumes with Wakatipu High School arts co-ordinator Kay Turner, staging with Tom Lynch, owner of sponsor Tom Tom Productions, and choreography with Queenstown School of Dance co-founder Anna Stuart.
The auditions will be an open-mic session at Revolver during its public trading hours on Monday, September 6, at 7pm. Performers must bring a recorded backing track or a musician to accompany them singing their choice of song.
"They sing one song and the people we think stand out, we'll do a second call-back and test their ability to move and harmonise," Ms O'Hanlan said.
