Luigi Mangione Musical Joins Long List Of True Crime Stage Stories

Accused murderer Luigi Mangione takes halfway shape successful San Francisco connected June 13. But no, this is not his execution trial. Instead, it’s “Luigi nan Musical,” a campy, satirical play turning a real-life execution lawsuit into a shape show. The accumulation premieres astatine nan Taylor Street Theatre, pinch astatine slightest 4 further performances lined up. 

According to nan charismatic website, much performances are scheduled to return spot soon. News of nan accumulation brought condemnation from many, asking why anyone would glorify a execution suspect.

Who’s down nan show?

Nova Bradford and Arielle Johnson wrote “Luigi nan Musical,” pinch original euphony by Johnson. The show’s site describes nan communicative arsenic pursuing Mangione — “the alleged firm assassin turned accidental people hero” — arsenic he navigates friendship, justness and nan absurdity of viral fame.

Mangione, 26, stands accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson past December.

While his proceedings day has yet to beryllium determined, nan philharmonic includes characters inspired by different high-profile figures Mangione reportedly encountered successful jail, specified arsenic erstwhile FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and euphony mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

A agelong contented of crime connected stage

True crime has agelong lit up Broadway. “Chicago,” nan deed philharmonic astir 2 women connected proceedings for execution successful nan 1920s, proved that courtroom play tin captivate theatre audiences.

Even fictional useful for illustration “Sweeney Todd,” which tells nan acheronian communicative of a barber who turns his customers into nutrient pies, show really crime and ungraded substance compelling shape stories. Now, “Luigi nan Musical” joins that agelong line, blending real-life ungraded pinch acheronian drama for a modern audience. 

Despite its humor, nan philharmonic has sparked backlash, peculiarly fixed nan comparatively caller events it portrays. Many critics are besides saying it crosses a civilized statement by turning a execution lawsuit into entertainment. 

Yet summons request is strong. According to nan site, each show is already sold out.

Director defends nan approach

“We’re not valorizing immoderate of these characters, and we’re besides not trivializing immoderate of their actions aliases alleged actions,” head Nova Bradford told nan San Francisco Chronicle. Bradford said nan squad wanted to research really nine projects meaning onto figures for illustration Mangione without minimizing nan gravity of nan existent events.