Dead Outlaw
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:07:12 PM Wikipedia source
Dead Outlaw is a musical with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna and a book by Itamar Moses. It is inspired by the life of Elmer McCurdy. It premiered in 2024 at the Minetta Lane Theatre. The musical was originally conceived by Yazbek. It opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on April 27, 2025.
Infobox
Music
David Yazbek Erik Della Penna
Lyrics
David Yazbek Erik Della Penna
Book
Itamar Moses
Basis
Inspired by the life of Elmer McCurdy
Premiere
March 10, 2024 (2024-03-10): Minetta Lane Theatre
Productions
2024 Off-Broadway2025 Broadway
Tables
· Cast and characters
2024
2024
Character
2024
Off Broadway
2025
Elmer McCurdy
Elmer McCurdy
Character
Elmer McCurdy
Off Broadway
Andrew Durand
Helen McCurdyMaggie JohnsonMillicent Esper
Helen McCurdyMaggie JohnsonMillicent Esper
Character
Helen McCurdyMaggie JohnsonMillicent Esper
Off Broadway
Julia Knitel
Thomas NoguchiJames Patterson
Thomas NoguchiJames Patterson
Character
Thomas NoguchiJames Patterson
Off Broadway
Thom Sesma
Coroner Joseph L. JohnsonDwain Esper
Coroner Joseph L. JohnsonDwain Esper
Character
Coroner Joseph L. JohnsonDwain Esper
Off Broadway
Eddie Cooper
BandleaderWalter Jarrett
BandleaderWalter Jarrett
Character
BandleaderWalter Jarrett
Off Broadway
Jeb Brown
LouisCharles PattersonCC Pyle
LouisCharles PattersonCC Pyle
Character
LouisCharles PattersonCC Pyle
Off Broadway
Dashiell Eaves
William Root Douglas MacArthurGeorge McCurdyLouis Sonney
William Root Douglas MacArthurGeorge McCurdyLouis Sonney
Character
William Root Douglas MacArthurGeorge McCurdyLouis Sonney
Off Broadway
Ken Marks
Andy PayneLuke JohnsonDan Sonney
Andy PayneLuke JohnsonDan Sonney
Character
Andy PayneLuke JohnsonDan Sonney
Off Broadway
Trent Saunders
| Character | Off Broadway | Broadway |
| 2024 | 2025 | |
| Elmer McCurdy | Andrew Durand | |
| Helen McCurdyMaggie JohnsonMillicent Esper | Julia Knitel | |
| Thomas NoguchiJames Patterson | Thom Sesma | |
| Coroner Joseph L. JohnsonDwain Esper | Eddie Cooper | |
| BandleaderWalter Jarrett | Jeb Brown | |
| LouisCharles PattersonCC Pyle | Dashiell Eaves | |
| William Root Douglas MacArthurGeorge McCurdyLouis Sonney | Ken Marks | |
| Andy PayneLuke JohnsonDan Sonney | Trent Saunders | |
· Awards and nominations › 2024 Off-Broadway production
2024
2024
Year
2024
Award
Drama Desk Awards
Category
Outstanding Musical
Nominee
Won
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Award
Itamar Moses
Category
Won
Outstanding Music
Outstanding Music
Year
Outstanding Music
Award
David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics
Outstanding Lyrics
Year
Outstanding Lyrics
Award
David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Category
Won
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Year
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Award
Andrew Durand
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Year
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Award
Thom Sesma
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Award
David Cromer
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Award
Arnulfo Maldonado
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Award
Heather Gilbert
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations
Outstanding Orchestrations
Year
Outstanding Orchestrations
Award
Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, David Yazbek
Category
Nominated
Drama League Awards
Drama League Awards
Year
Drama League Awards
Award
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Award
David Cromer
Category
Nominated
Lucille Lortel Awards
Lucille Lortel Awards
Year
Lucille Lortel Awards
Award
Outstanding Musical
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Director
Outstanding Director
Year
Outstanding Director
Award
David Cromer
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical
Year
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical
Award
Jeb Brown
Category
Nominated
Andrew Durand
Andrew Durand
Year
Andrew Durand
Award
Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical
Year
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical
Award
Thom Sesma
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design
Outstanding Scenic Design
Year
Outstanding Scenic Design
Award
Arnulfo Maldonado
Category
Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Year
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Award
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Category
Won
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Year
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Award
Jeb Brown
Category
Nominated
Andrew Durand
Andrew Durand
Year
Andrew Durand
Award
Won
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Year
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Award
Julia Knitel
Category
Nominated
Thom Sesma
Thom Sesma
Year
Thom Sesma
Award
Won
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Award
Itamar Moses
Category
Nominated
Outstanding New Score
Outstanding New Score
Year
Outstanding New Score
Award
Erik Della Penna and David Yazbek
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations
Outstanding Orchestrations
Year
Outstanding Orchestrations
Award
Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Award
David Cromer
Category
Nominated
New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards
New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards
Year
New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards
Award
Best Musical
Category
Itamar Moses, David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Nominee
Won
Off-Broadway Alliance Awards
Off-Broadway Alliance Awards
Year
Off-Broadway Alliance Awards
Award
Best New Musical
Category
Won
Clarence Derwent Awards
Clarence Derwent Awards
Year
Clarence Derwent Awards
Award
Andrew Durand
Category
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Won | |
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Itamar Moses | Won | ||
| Outstanding Music | David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lyrics | David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical | Andrew Durand | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Thom Sesma | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical | Arnulfo Maldonado | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical | Heather Gilbert | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, David Yazbek | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated | ||
| Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Director | David Cromer | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical | Jeb Brown | Nominated | ||
| Andrew Durand | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Thom Sesma | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Arnulfo Maldonado | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Jeb Brown | Nominated | ||
| Andrew Durand | Won | |||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Julia Knitel | Nominated | ||
| Thom Sesma | Won | |||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Itamar Moses | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding New Score | Erik Della Penna and David Yazbek | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated | ||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards | Best Musical | Itamar Moses, David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna | Won | |
| Off-Broadway Alliance Awards | Best New Musical | Won | ||
| Clarence Derwent Awards | Andrew Durand | Won | ||
· Awards and nominations › Original Broadway production
2025
2025
Year
2025
Award
Drama League Awards
Category
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Nominee
Nominated
Distinguished Performance
Distinguished Performance
Year
Distinguished Performance
Award
Andrew Durand
Category
Nominated
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
Year
Tony Awards
Award
Best Musical
Category
Nominated
Best Actor in a Musical
Best Actor in a Musical
Year
Best Actor in a Musical
Award
Andrew Durand
Category
Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Year
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Award
Jeb Brown
Category
Nominated
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Year
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Award
Julia Knitel
Category
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Year
Best Original Score
Award
Erik Della Penna and David Yazbek
Category
Nominated
Best Book of a Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Year
Best Book of a Musical
Award
Itamar Moses
Category
Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Direction of a Musical
Year
Best Direction of a Musical
Award
David Cromer
Category
Nominated
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Distinguished Performance | Andrew Durand | Nominated | ||
| Tony Awards | Best Musical | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Musical | Andrew Durand | Nominated | ||
| Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Jeb Brown | Nominated | ||
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Julia Knitel | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Score | Erik Della Penna and David Yazbek | Nominated | ||
| Best Book of a Musical | Itamar Moses | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated | ||
References
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/theater/dead-outlaw-audible.html
- Dead Outlaw | Alive on Broadway | Official Sitehttps://deadoutlawmusical.com/
- Theatre Maniahttps://www.theatermania.com/news/review-dead-outlaw-a-thrillingly-macabre-new-broadway-musical_1774011/
- Dead Outlawhttps://www.playbill.com/article/dead-outlaw-the-new-musical-from-the-bands-visit-creators-begins-performances-off-broadway-february-28
- Dead Outlawhttps://www.playbill.com/article/dead-outlaw-the-new-musical-from-the-bands-visit-creators-extends-off-broadway
- "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play | Playbill"https://playbill.com/article/stereophonic-leads-2024-drama-desk-awards-with-7-wins-including-outstanding-play
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/audible-will-release-complete-dead-outlaw-recording-this-month
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/theater/dead-outlaw-broadway.html
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/dead-outlaws-entire-off-broadway-cast-to-return-for-broadway-run
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/dead-outlaw-will-close-on-broadway-this-month
- TheaterManiahttps://www.theatermania.com/news/sarah-paulson-ihells-kitchen-i-win-drama-league-awards_1740776/
- New York Theatre Guidehttps://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/2024-lucille-lortel-award-winners-announced
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/stereophonic-leads-2024-outer-critics-circle-awards-wins-best-play-see-the-full-list-of-winners
- DC Theater Artshttps://dctheaterarts.org/2024/05/13/winners-of-the-2024-new-york-drama-critics-circle-awards/
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/article/dead-outlaw-and-oh-mary-among-winners-of-13th-annual-off-broadway-alliance-awards
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/2025-drama-league-awards-nominations-are-out-read-the-full-list
- www.tonyawards.comhttps://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/