“Dead Outlaw,” the darkly comic, bourbon-soaked new Broadway musical, was scheduled to ride into Washington, D.C. this week for a celebratory performance and artifact donation at the Library of Congress. But on Friday, the producers abruptly canceled the appearance following news of the termination of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. In a statement, the production praised Hayden as “a fierce advocate for preserving America’s cultural memory and a great champion of the Broadway community.”
The event, which was set to include cast performances and contributions from the creative team, including David Yazbek, Erik Della Penna and Itamar Moses, was meant to commemorate the musical’s journey from Off-Broadway sleeper hit to the recipient of seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Instead, in choosing to withhold their appearance, the creators echoed the very story they dramatize: just as Elmer McCurdy’s embalmed body was carted from place to place without consent or dignity, the cancellation serves as a protest against cultural institutions being stripped of agency by political forces.
‘Glengarry,’ ‘Good Night,’ and ‘Othello’ recoup investment costs
In a Broadway climate where soaring production costs and uneven attendance have made profitability feel like a relic of the past, three high-octane, celebrity-driven plays have defied the odds and the spreadsheets. “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the newsroom drama co-written by and starring George Clooney, officially recouped its $9.5 million capitalization in just 7.5 weeks, shattering records as the first play to gross over $4 million in a single week. “Othello,” starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, declared recoupment after just nine weeks and is now the highest-grossing play revival in world history. And now “Glengarry Glen Ross,” starring a volatile dream team of Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr, has also joined the winners’ circle, recouping in less than seven weeks and smashing the Palace Theatre’s box office record with a $2.4 million haul during the week ending May 11. These three plays, all opening within the same season, underscore a sobering economic reality: in 2025, you probably need the combined clout of prestige screen actors, limited runs, and name-brand properties to achieve what used to be called a “hit.”
Ham4Ham to return to highlight new musicals
Ten years after “Hamilton” exploded onto the Broadway scene, Ham4Ham, the series of short, free outdoor performances outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre, will return on Wednesday, May 14 to spotlight several new Broadway musicals including “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Pirates!” and “Maybe Happy Ending.” Originally launched in 2015 as a pre-show treat tied to the in-person lottery for the show’s $10 tickets (now conducted digitally), Ham4Ham quickly became a phenomenon, drawing massive crowds and featuring surprise performances by Broadway stars. While it delighted fans, it also created major crowd congestion on 46th Street, ultimately leading to its discontinuation.
‘Wanted’ musical shoots for Broadway
The outlaw musical “Gun & Powder,” now rebranded and retitled as “Wanted,” is aiming to arrive on Broadway in 2026. “Wanted,” which played New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse in 2024, is based on the story of Mary and Martha Clarke, twin sisters who turned to crime in 1893 Texas. It features book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri, a real-life descendant of the Clarke sisters. “We believe the show’s story of resilience and perseverance is timelier than ever, and we remain committed to championing this bold, original, and action-packed new musical,” the producers said in a statement.
