David Yazbek, Erik Della Penna, and Itamar Moses' musical Dead Outlaw will no longer be performing at the Library of Congress collections in Washington, D.C. May 12 as had been announced. The reason cite: the actions of President Donald Trump.
The Tony-nominated musical has pulled out of the performance, which was intended to celebrate materials from the show being placed in the Library's permanent collection. But then, on May 8, Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, was ousted from her position by the Trump Administration without cause.
The official statement from Dead Outlaw is as follows. "Regretfully, the Broadway production of Dead Outlaw has decided to cancel Monday鈥檚 planned appearance at the Library of Congress upon learning of the termination of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden has been a fierce advocate for preserving America鈥檚 cultural memory and a great champion of the Broadway community."
Dr. Hayden was the 14th Librarian of Congress, and both the first African American and the first woman to hold the post. Appointed in 2016, Dr. Hayden had one year left in her decade-long tenure. It is unclear if the developmental artifacts that were to be donated by Yazbek, Della Penna, and Moses will still join the Library鈥檚 permanent collection at a later date.
The actors of Dead Outlaw are the latest refusing to perform due to the actions of the Trump Administration. On May 7, it was announced that cast members of the national tour of Les Miserables will not be performing a show at the Kennedy Center where Trump will be in attendance.
Dead Outlaw opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre April 27, where it was promptly nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The work made its world premiere in 2024 at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre via Audible Theater, where it became one of the most award-winning musicals of that season. The production won the Drama Desk, Off Broadway Alliance, and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best New Musical.
Based on a bizarre but somehow completely true story, the musical follows Elmer McCurdy鈥攁n ambitious, turn-of-the-20th-century outlaw, whose death ended a life of failed crime and alcoholism and began a brilliant career as a mummified side-show attraction that traveled the USA for decades. The project is the brainchild of Yazbek, who reportedly has been fascinated with the story for three decades.
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Company of Dead Outlaw
Julia Knitel and Andrew Durand in Dead Outlaw
Jeb Brown in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand and Julia Knitel in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand and Julia Knitel in Dead Outlaw
Trent Saunders in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand and Jeb Brown in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand and Jeb Brown in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand, Trent Saunders, and Eddie Cooper in Dead Outlaw
Andrew Durand and Julia Knitel in Dead Outlaw
Company of Dead Outlaw
Trent Saunders, Eddie Cooper, Thom Sesma, Andrew Durand, and Dashiell Eaves in Dead Outlaw
Company of Dead Outlaw
Thom Sesma in Dead Outlaw
