Elton John, left, and David Furnish attend the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 27. They are producing the Broadway play Next Fall. (Peter Kramer/Associated Press)

Singer-songwriter Elton John, who has written music for such Broadway hits as Lion King, is now turning his hand to production on the Great White Way.

On Tuesday, he announced he and partner David Furnish will produce Next Fall, a new play by U.S. playwright Geoffrey Nauffts, in its Broadway run.

Next Fall, about two gay men and the effect of their religious beliefs on their relationship, was well received in an off-Broadway staging last summer.

"After fulfilling experiences bringing new musicals to the stage, it was seeing this inspiring and timely new work that attracted us to take on our first play," John and Furnish said in a statement.

John wrote the music for hit shows the Lion King and Billy Elliot: The Musical, and Furnish was executive producer for Billy Elliot. The couple are also collaborating on a score for the film Showstopper.

As producers for Next Fall, they will invest in the show and allow their names to be used in publicity for it.

Next Fall, to be directed by Sheryl Kaller, opens on Broadway on March 11 at the Helen Hayes Theatre.

Furnish and John join a lineup of celebrities moving into Broadway production, including Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who are producing the musical Fela!