Floyd Collins Musical Premieres Broadway After 30 Years

The story of Floyd Collins, a cave explorer trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky in 1925, has inspired multiple retellings, including the 1951 film 'Ace in the Hole' and a musical by Adam Guettel and Tina Landau. The Broadway production of 'Floyd Collins,' which premiered over 30 years after its Off-Broadway debut, explores both the tragedy underground and the media circus above ground, highlighting themes of hope and dreams amid adversity. Jeremy Jordan leads the cast in the Lincoln Center Theater's staging, with a cast album released in July 2025. The musical portrays Collins as a determined dreamer seeking to create a tourist attraction to support his family, capturing the human condition and the complex motivations of those around him. The production also illuminates the historical significance of Mammoth Cave and the early cave tourism industry, while reflecting on the impact of media sensationalism inspired by Collins's ordeal. Critics have noted that unlike the film focused on the reporter, the musical centers on Collins himself, offering a deeply personal perspective on his legacy.