Billy Joel songs to take center stage on Broadway

NEW YORK -- The Piano Man is taking his act to Broadway.

Billy Joel's songs are the basis for a new musical, "Movin' Out," that will hit the New York stage in October. While the pop music icon won't star in -- or even be part of -- the show, 26 of his songs and instrumental compositions will.

The play, conceived and directed by Emmy-award winning choreographer Twyla Tharp, traces the lives of six friends over two decades. Joel's songs and lyrics provide all the words.

In concept, it's not unlike "Mamma Mia!" -- a loosely structured play that strings together a number of tunes from the 1970s disco group ABBA. That show opened last year on Broadway, and has proven to be a hit.

Joel wasn't available for comment, but said last year of Tharp's project, "It worked really, really well, and the narrative is actually being described through the lyrics of the songs, which are done by a live band, with dance, so it's a different kind of performance."

The show is slated to open Oct. 24.