WISH-LIST WEDNESDAY: Dead Outlaw

Returning to the present day this week, we look at one of the current broadway awards season front runners, in the wake of the announcement of the 78th Tony Awards nominations in the past week or so. With music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, and a book by Itamar Moses, "Dead Outlaw" first premiered off-broadway in early 2023, running at the Minetta Lane Theatre for six weeks, and winning three Drama Desk awards from eleven nominations, including "Outstanding Musical", in the process.

Official artwork for the broadway production

The show tells the morbid true story of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw whom died in a shootout, and whose body was displayed at a sideshow for decades; the story follows the unusual journey of McCurdy's corpse, and how it was abused and exploited over the years. With a score inspired by rock, country, showtunes and American standards, Dead Outlaw has been almost universally critically acclaimed since it first opened.

The company of Dead Outlaw (credit: Matthew Murphy)

It transferred to broadway in 2025, beginning previews at the Longacre Theatre on the 12th of April, and officially opening two weeks later, with the entire original off-broadway cast reprising their respective roles. It has since been nominated for seven Tony Awards, making it one of the most nominated productions of the 2024-25 broadway season, so who knows, maybe if there's enough interest it might make the journey across the Atlantic eventually...