“Weird Al” Yankovic is finally going to be the subject of a Broadway musical. Can you think of another entertainer who should be showcased on Broadway who hasn’t been yet?
Deadline reports that the songs by the American comedy musician, writer, and actor will feature in a new musical, Dare to Be Stupid: The Weird Al Musical.
The musical is being developed for Broadway, while Moulin Rouge! Director Alex Timbers is attached to the project alongside writers Scott Brown and Anthony King and the Tony Award-winning Broadway production company, Seaview.
Several of Weird Al’s parody songs are set to feature in the musical, including Amish Paradise (a spoof of Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise), Eat It (a parody of Michael Jackson’s Beat It), Smells Like Nirvana (that one is obvious), and Like A Surgeon (a spoof of Madonna’s Like A Virgin).
The production timeline, other creatives joining the musical, and the premiere date will be announced soon.
In a statement, Weird Al said the “problem” of no entertainment based on his work at Broadway was one he aimed to remedy “immediately.”
“Ever since I was a middle-aged man, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the New York theatre community,” he said. “Plus, the one thing people always say about Broadway is that it’s ‘severely lacking in Weird Al-based entertainment,’ and I think this musical should fix that problem immediately.”
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Greg Nobile, CEO of Seaview, described Weird Al as a “singular voice” in American culture, making Dare To Be Stupid a once-in-a-lifetime kind of musical.
“Dare To Be Stupid feels like the kind of musical that only comes around once in a while – wildly original, deeply funny, and powered by the unmistakable heart that has made ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic a singular voice in American culture,” Nobile explained.
“Beneath the absurdity and the joy, is a show about creativity, individuality, and the freedom to be unapologetically yourself. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Al, Alex, Scott and Anthony to bring Weird Al’s singular world to the stage.”
Director Alex Timbers said that he’s been a longtime “avid fan” of Weird Al and described the experience of bringing Dare To Be Stupid to life as a “dream come true.”
“I first fell in love with Al’s music with the release of Dare To Be Stupid and have remained an avid fan ever since,” Timbers shared.
“Now, it’s a dream come true to work with one of my comedy heroes, bringing an original story set to his beloved songbook to the stage. What Al, Anthony, and Scott are creating is unexpected, subversive, meta, and hilarious, and I can’t wait for the world to experience it.”
Weird Al Yankovic returned to Australia in March 2023, when he embarked on the “Unfortunate Return Of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity” Tour.
Reviewing the musician and comedian’s Melbourne show, The Music’s Joe Dolan wrote, “The Unfortunate Return of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Yankovic is so much more than a parody performer. Though perhaps not as recognised, his works are just as brilliant as his tongue-in-cheek versions of famous tunes.”
