April 24, 2025 Members of the Cast and Creative Team of Broadway’s “Dead Outlaw” Visit Library of Congress May 12

The Library of Congress will welcome members of the creative team and Broadway cast members from the award-winning production of "Dead Outlaw" to the Coolidge Auditorium May 12 for an exclusive performance of selections from the show. Artifacts representing the development of the musical will be donated to the Library’s collection.

Special guests at this event include David Yazbek, Erik Della Penna, Itamar Moses, Andrew Durand and Julia Knitel. Thomas Floyd of The Washington Post will moderate the conversation following the performance. This event will begin at 2 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Register for tickets.

Created by composers Yazbek (Tony Award for "The Band's Visit") and Della Penna, and book writer Moses (Tony Award for “The Band’s Visit”), "Dead Outlaw" is the bizarre true story of an outlaw named Elmer McCurdy. McCurdy was born in the late 1800s, and his mummified body reached a celebrity status that lasted until the 1970s.

Performing will be cast members Andrew Durand (Elmer McCurdy) and Julia Knitel (Helen/Maggie), accompanied by Della Pena.

“Dead Outlaw” previously ran off-Broadway and dominated the 2024 awards season, taking home the prize for best musical at the Drama Desk Awards, New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards and Off-Broadway Alliance Awards. The show is open for previews on Broadway with an opening night scheduled for April 27.

Afternoons with the Library provide more ways to interact with the vast collections, experts, and resources of the Library of Congress. The series features online and in-person programs, such as lectures and discussions, live performances, screenings, workshops and seminars inspired by the Library’s holdings. Afternoons with the Library programs are scheduled between Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. 

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.