Broadway's Dead Outlaw Musical Opens at Longacre Theatre

Dead Outlaw, now playing at Broadway's Longacre Theatre after an acclaimed Off-Broadway run, tells the bizarre true story of Elmer McCurdy, an inept outlaw whose corpse became a posthumous sideshow attraction for decades across America. The musical, with a book by Itamar Moses and music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, is a raucous, country-rock-infused production that leans into the sensationalism and dark humor of McCurdy’s life and afterlife. Critics note the show's energetic folk-rock score, fast-paced narration, and inventive staging, with Andrew Durand starring as McCurdy and Jeb Brown as the Band Leader guiding the audience through the outlandish journey. The production has garnered significant praise, winning major Off-Broadway awards including the Drama Desk, Off Broadway Alliance, and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best New Musical. While the musical offers little time for deep emotional investment in its many characters, its focus is firmly on entertainment and the absurdity of McCurdy’s legacy. Ultimately, Dead Outlaw serves as both a darkly comedic exploration of fame and a celebration of living life (and death) to the fullest.