# Dead Outlaw

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 will open on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on April 27th 2025.

## Production history
### Off-Broadway (2024)

Previews for Dead Outlaw began on February 28, 2024, at the Minetta Lane Theatre. The world premiere of Dead Outlaw opened days later on March 10. The production concluded its run on April 14. The production featured direction by David Cromer with orchestrations and arrangements by Della Penna, Yazbek and Dean Sharenow, scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Heather Gilbert, and sound design by Kai Harada and Josh Millican. The production received eleven Drama Desk Award nominations, winning three, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical, and Outstanding Lyrics.

### Broadway (2025)

On December 19, 2024, it was announced that the musical would transfer to the Longacre Theatre. The show is expected to begin previews on April 12, with an opening night scheduled for April 27. Casting is to be announced.

## Cast and characters

| Character | Off Broadway | Broadway |
| Character | 2024 | 2025 |
| Bandleader Walter Jarrett | Jeb Brown | Jeb Brown |
| Coroner Joseph L. Johnson Dwain Esper | Eddie Cooper | Eddie Cooper |
| Elmer McCurdy | Andrew Durand | Andrew Durand |
| Louis Charles Patterson | Dashiell Eaves | Dashiell Eaves |
| Helen McCurdy Maggie Johnson Millicent Esper | Julia Knitel | Julia Knitel |
| Root Johnson Douglas MacArthur George | Ken Marks | Ken Marks |
| Andy Payne | Trent Saunders | Trent Saunders |
| Thomas Noguchi | Thom Sesma | Thom Sesma |

## Awards and nominations
### 2024 Off-Broadway Production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Outstanding Musical | Won |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Itamar Moses | Won |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna | Won |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical | Andrew Durand | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Thom Sesma | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical | Arnulfo Maldonado | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical | Heather Gilbert | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, David Yazbek | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Musical | Outstanding Musical | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Director | David Cromer | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical | Jeb Brown | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical | Andrew Durand | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Thom Sesma | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design | Arnulfo Maldonado | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical | Won |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Jeb Brown | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Andrew Durand | Won |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Julia Knitel | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Thom Sesma | Won |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Itamar Moses | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Erik Della Penna and David Yazbek | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | David Cromer | Nominated |
| 2024 | New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards | Best Musical | Itamar Moses, David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna | Won |
| 2024 | Off-Broadway Alliance Awards | Best New Musical | Best New Musical | Won |