Damon Albarn's 'Gorillaz' musical journeys west

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courtesy of NME.com Fri May 2, 12:00 PM ET

Damon Albarn's circus opera is set to make its U.S. debut on May 22.

Monkey: Journey To The West premiered in Manchester, England, last year, and is now making its way Stateside, debuting at the 2008 Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina.

The opera, for which Blur frontman Albarn composed the music, will be performed at the festival 18 times between May 23 and June 8. The show will open in London two months later at the Royal Opera House.

The show was designed by Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett and directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, and is a mixture of stunning live-action circus acts and animations.

An adaptation of an ancient Chinese legend, the opera follows the story of the Monkey King, a hyperactive ape who gains immortality after leading a revolt against heaven.

The Spoleto Festival USA is an annual arts festival that takes place in Charleston for 17 days each spring. For additional information, visit Spoletousa.org.

For more on Gorillaz, check out their NME.com page.