You don’t see too many people turning tragedy into gold—but in the world of musicals, it seems like even some of the darkest moments make it to the big stage. It looks like the infamous case of Luigi Mangione has been picked up by writers and is now becoming the newest NYC musical—yes, you heard that right. It wouldn’t be the first time that an assassination would be played out through song and dance, but the Mangione case has drawn the interest of NYC’s executive writing team within the theatre industry who look to showcase the controversial story under the bright lights.
To refresh everyone’s memories, Luigi Mangione was accused of shooting and murdering the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson. The murder occurred in New York City on December 4, 2024, five days before Mangione was taken into custody. Mangione pleaded not guilty to the crime. He is currently awaiting trial which is set to take place in June 2026.
While Mangione denied the murder, his personal diary states otherwise as it details his motives behind the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. The entry does the accused killer very little justice and makes the case much more interesting.
The intriguing details of the case, however, make it the perfect product for a potential musical hit in NYC. The writers claim that the purpose of the musical is not to glorify violence but rather to “interrogate” it. Given the depth of the case along with the fact that it is still ongoing serves as a testament to just how encapsulating the entire scenario is. The musical will surely do wonders for the theatre industry and make even more people tune into the upcoming trial in which Mangione will be given a final verdict.
What makes the story even more remarkable is that the site of the musical is only five minutes away from the assassination site—pretty insane if you ask me.
Surprisingly, Broadway has yet to pick up the concept, though I would not be surprised if they featured the story in theaters within the next five years. The Mangione case is quite the story, and as the case unfolds and new details arise, more context will be provided in which theatres can use in order to create a magnificent show.
