DEAD OUTLAW Previews- Page 3

[MB124]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 11:29pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "How did this evening go?

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I just want to know what the reaction was when Elmer hearsthat distantwhistle early on and tells his cronies,“Alright boys… let’s go rob that ****in’ train.”
(Assuming, of course, they kept it in.)

"

What…? LOL

I heard the entire audience screamed at the top of their lungs, ripped their hair out, and set the theater on fire when this line was spoken. 

[MB124]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 11:31pm

[James2]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 12:24am

MB124 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "How did this evening go?

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I just want to know what the reaction was when Elmer hearsthat distantwhistle early on and tells his cronies,“Alright boys… let’s go rob that ****in’ train.”
(Assuming, of course, they kept it in.)

"

What…? LOL

I heard the entire audience screamed at the top of their lungs, ripped their hair out, and set the theater on fire when this line was spoken."

I thought that was more a reaction to the rock burst at the beginning of "Dead," based on how they cheered the band's entrance (and Jeb Brown's entrance) at the top of the show.

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 1:12am

I saw the final dress and saw this downtown. It doesn’t fill a Broadway house emotionally, but it is  entertaining as hell. MHE is still the new musical front runner in my book. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 8:51am

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 10:06am

Ensemble1698878795 said: "I saw the final dress and saw this downtown. It doesn’t fill a Broadway house emotionally, but it is entertaining as hell. MHE is still the new musical front runner in my book."

This is a great way of putting it and I agree. I saw it twice at the Minetta Lane and it felt electric and BIG and immersive. It loses a bit of that in the Longacre, but is still excellent.

[Owen22]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 10:45am

Ensemble1698878795 said: "I saw the final dress and saw this downtown. It doesn’t fill a Broadway house emotionally, but it is entertaining as hell. MHE is still the new musical front runner in my book."

Oh God.  There's going to be two months of Maybe Happy Ending VS Dead Outlaw posts aren't there?  And since MHE has already been heralded, if you see anti-Dead Outlaw posts on here...we know the reason...

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 11:20am

Owen22 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "I saw the final dress and saw this downtown. It doesn’t fill a Broadway house emotionally, but it is entertaining as hell. MHE is still the new musical front runner in my book."

Oh God. There's going to be two months of Maybe Happy Ending VS Dead Outlaw posts aren't there? And since MHE has already been heralded, if you see anti-Dead Outlaw posts on here...we know the reason..."

My post was not anti Dead Outlaw. It’s a hell of a musical, but MHE has more wholesome components of a full experience in its story. Two things can be true. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 11:40am

I haven't seen DEAD OUTLAW on Broadway yet - going this week - but every "serious" theatre person I talk to is singing the praises of MAYBE HAPPY ENDING.

The show also just posted a mashup of that Vulture feature where Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, and Lea Salonga all cited it as their favorite Broadway show they've seen recently.

That it's also selling well goes a long way, too.

MHE is the one to beat. I don't think it's out of line to assume it wins Musical, Score, probably Book, and 2 or 3 craft awards.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 11:47am

I feel like I’m the only person who wasn’t knocked out by MHE. It didn’t leave me moved or touched, or even emotionally invested. It’s well-constructed and stylish, and there’s certainly a lot about it that I liked, but I didn’t think it was as wholly successful as others seem to.

I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe I should revisit…

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 12:05pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "I feel like I’m the only person who wasn’t knocked out by MHE. It didn’t leave me moved or touched, or even emotionally invested. It’s well-constructed and stylish, and there’s certainly a lot about it that I liked, but I didn’t think it was as wholly successful as others seem to.

I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe I should revisit…"

I had the EXACT same reaction to MHE when I went. Seeing Dead Outlaw this week, and I'm very much looking forward to it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 12:20pm

I can't even work up the "want to see it." I understand I'm in the minority, and I'm thrilled for those involved that it overcame a tenuous start, but I've seen nothing (clips, interviews) that have gotten me to change my mind. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 12:55pm

Seeing MHE on Tuesday and DO on Wednesday, so on Thursday, I will settle this! 
 

(Kidding, of course.)

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 12:59pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "I feel like I’m the only person who wasn’t knocked out by MHE. It didn’t leave me moved or touched, or even emotionally invested. It’s well-constructed and stylish, and there’s certainly a lot about it that I liked, but I didn’t think it was as wholly successful as others seem to.

I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe I should revisit…"

I wasn’t knocked out per se by MHE either. But in comparison it’s a better constructed musical politically speaking. The story sticks with you longer, though I’d say DO could win best score. 

[scripps]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 12:59pm

I enjoy both shows immensely, but the little show that could aspect of MHE's trajectory will likely be too iressisitable a narrative to ignore come awards season. I've been stumping for Dead Outlaw since early previews off Broadway but I'm not confident about it finding success this spring, especially with that ugly logo and marketing (oooh, you did a photoshoot in Coney Island, how edgy). I think best score is a lock though, release the cast album!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 1:05pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "WiCkEDrOcKS said: "I feel like I’m the only person who wasn’t knocked out by MHE. It didn’t leave me moved or touched, or even emotionally invested. It’s well-constructed and stylish, and there’s certainly a lot about it that I liked, but I didn’t think it was as wholly successful as others seem to.

I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe I should revisit…"

I wasn’t knocked out per se by MHE either. But in comparison it’s a better constructed musical politically speaking. The story sticks with you longer, though I’d say DO could win best score."

FWIW, I saw DEAD OUTLAW off Broadway - and I thought it was really strong. I don’t think it’s a masterpiece, but it certainly “stuck with” me longer than MHE… 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 2:19pm

I enjoyed Dead Outlaw Off-Broadway. It was a weird, scrappy little musical that felt like that’s where the show belonged, so I’m curious how it translates to a Broadway theatre.

A reminder that preferring one show over another doesn’t mean being against another show. Lots of people resonated with Maybe Happy Ending and some didn’t. The same can be said about almost any show. Diverse opinions are fine lol.

Wishing this show success and looking forward to seeing it. 

[Dan6]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 2:52pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "I feel like I’m the only person who wasn’t knocked out by MHE. It didn’t leave me moved or touched, or even emotionally invested. It’s well-constructed and stylish, and there’s certainly a lot about it that I liked, but I didn’t think it was as wholly successful as others seem to.

I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe I should revisit…"

FWIW, I've seen MHE twice. The first time I thought it was...fine? The second time, I pretty much subbed throughout and it became my favorite new musical since Kimberly Akimbo. I've also been listening to the cast recording continuously since it was released. No idea why I reacted so differently, other than the first time was the day after the election and maybe I was too numb and in shock to really experience anything. But I do think it's something really special.  

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 3:12pm

I loved both Dead Outlaw and Maybe Happy Ending and would be thrilled if either won Best Musical. I'm honestly just all for well-executed and original musicals being recognized and rewarded. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 3:59pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I haven't seen DEAD OUTLAW on Broadway yet - going this week - but every "serious" theatre person I talk to is singing the praises of MAYBE HAPPY ENDING.

The show also just posted a mashup of that Vulture feature where Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, and Lea Salonga all cited it as their favorite Broadway show they've seen recently.

That it's also selling well goes a long way, too.

MHE isthe one to beat. I don't think it's out of line to assume it wins Musical, Score, probably Book, and 2 or 3 craft awards."

I must be looking in the wrong places as I can't find the clip. Nevermind. Found it. :)

Updated On: 4/13/25 at 03:59 PM

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 4:11pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrel said: "I loved both Dead Outlaw and Maybe Happy Ending and would be thrilled if either won Best Musical. I'm honestly just all for well-executed and original musicals being recognized and rewarded."

I honestly can see these two shows canceling each other out and a third show taking the Tony.  I don’t know why everyone thinks it’s between these two.  I thought both were just ok.  DO doesn’t work as well in the large theatre IMO.  We shall see. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 4:47pm

Operation Mincemeat would be the frontrunner for Best Musical. Not MHE or Dead Outlaw.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 4:49pm

Nothing is the frontrunner right now. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 4:52pm

Kad said: "Nothing is the frontrunner right now."

THANK YOU.

[getatme]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 8:47pm

I was at first preview of this show after hearing so much about it over the past few months and found that I liked it quite a bit, but I didn't love it. Perhaps I let the hype get to me, perhaps it just doesn't fill the Longacre, perhaps it was a little bit of the cast re-finding their footing. I found it to be overall good, but not something I'm raving about the next day.

I liked the score a lot, one of my favorite Yazbeck works, tuneful, catchy, entertaining, and, as always, stylistically specific and clear. Loved the way band members were given the opportunities to sing and join the story at times.

The book is strong, with a bit of an over-reliance on narration that I think is a leftover if this piece starting as a show for Audible. Wish there was a little more showing and a little less telling at times, but that was a minor quibble.

Performances are uniformly strong across the board. Andrew Durand's early scened are energetic and he has such an exciting and odd presence. His physical work for the whole show is very impressive. I also found Jeb Brown to be a phenomenal storyteller leading us through this odd tale and stepping in at various times.

Direction is solid but not overall thrilling. Wish the bandstand moved all the way upstage to widen the playing space or even had multiple sides to become different locations, just something to utilize the stage space a little better. Lighting was very impressive. Sound was a little muddy at times, but that seems to be par for the course at a first preview these days.

It's certainly an odd story, one of those stranger than fiction things, and I think I expected it to be either a little crazier/funnier OR to be a little darker and more intense. It sits in the middle ground, there are some good laughs, there are some darker moments, but I think it could benefit from committing fully to one side or the other.

I do think, though, it gets a little bogged down at times trying to tell you everything this body was put on display for. The one of that stuck out the most to me as being only tangentially related was the runner/Route 66 race. I get it, the body was put on display alongside the race in each city, but considering they don't know for sure that this runner and the body every interacted in any way, it felt like a side quest with very little reward or connection to the overall story, and I think the time could be better served by giving us a song FOR the body about how he feels being put on display around the country or something. I kept waiting for a ghost song that never came.

Overall, solid with a nice, mature first preview audience that didn't scream or cheer for every moment, but I was left feeling a little wanting by the end.