A performance of David Bowie’s trippy, melancholy musical Lazarus turned into a memorial for the Thin White Duke on Tuesday night as fans who had bought tickets to celebrate his music instead found themselves mourning his passing.

The performance was the first time since Bowie’s death on Monday that the show went on at the 200-seat New York Theatre Workshop in New York’s East Village. Some audience members left in tears.

David Bowie
The performance was the first time since Bowie’s death (Andy Butterton/PA)

Cast members did not acknowledge the death or make any changes to the show. They also declined to comment. The only official nod to Bowie’s death was a video screen in the lobby showing a photo of the musician with the words “In Memoriam, 1947-2016″. Fans left flowers near the entrance.

Starring Dexter and Six Feet Under actor Michael C Hall, the musical has been a hit since previews began on November 18. Bowie’s death only made tickets more desired, with a single matinee seat going Tuesday afternoon for $1,900 (around £1,300) on StubHub.

Bowie wrote the musical with Irish playwright Enda Walsh as a sequel to the 1963 novel The Man Who Fell To Earth by Walter Tevis, which inspired the 1976 film of the same name that he starred in. The musical is directed by Belgian avant-garde director Ivo Van Hove.

The 18-songs in the musical include some of Bowie’s biggest hits — including Changes, Heroes, Absolute Beginners and Life On Mars — as well as new songs like Lazarus, taken from Bowie’s latest Blackstar album.

Members of the New York Theatre Workshop open the box office, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 in New York. (Mark Lennihan/AP)
Members of the New York Theatre Workshop open the box office in New York (Mark Lennihan/AP)

The opaque story centres on millionaire alien Thomas Jerome Newton, who Bowie portrayed in the film. Newton, played now by Hall, has imprisoned himself in his own apartment, drinking gin, eating Twinkies, being tormented by his past and watching TV. He cannot leave – or die.

His new assistant gets sucked deeper into his world, Newton is visited by an ethereal girl who creates a rocket ship out of masking tape to take him home, and he’s harassed by an enigmatic, black-clad figure. At one point, the stage is filled with white liquid resembling milk, which some actors bodysurf on. At another, it is filled with dark balloons.

Michael C Hall stars in Lazarus (Andy Kropa/AP)
Michael C Hall stars in Lazarus (Andy Kropa/AP)

The story has a recurring theme of creatures caught between worlds and the exhaustion that comes with daily survival. “I’m done with this living,” a character cries out a one point, in a line that had more depth after Bowie’s passing.

The rest of the 11-member cast includes Tony Award nominee Cristin Milioti and Broadway veteran Michael Esper. There is also a video appearance by Alan Cumming.

The New York Theatre Workshop, an engine for bold works, has not been immune to tragedy like this. Almost 20 years ago to the day, playwright Jonathan Larson died on the eve of the company’s first preview of his groundbreaking Rent.