‘Luigi The Musical’ & The Surge of True Crime Musicals (Naked City)

‘Luigi The Musical’ & The Surge of True Crime Musicals is the latest column (May 20, 2025) from Coffin Ed‘s The Naked City column – exclusive to City Hub.

It was considered a joke when first suggested: Luigi The Musical — a musical focusing on the now-notorious Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione, who has yet to face trial, has become an unlikely celebrity , much of it attributed to his youthful good looks. Donations to his legal fund have already surpassed $1 million and he continues to attract an increasing number of fanatical supporters, a large number of them young women (and gay and bisexual men!).

Whilst many mocked the idea of a musical based on his assassination style murder and subsequent arrest, Luigi The Musical is set to open at San Francisco’s Taylor Street Theatre for a five-performance run in June.

The satirical romp also features actors playing the parts of Sam Bankman-Fried and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, both with whom Mangione is currently incarcerated with in a Brooklyn jail.

Given that Mangione faces charges in three jurisdictions, New York, Pennsylvania and the Federal Court, with the Justice Department seeking the death penalty, you have to wonder how the laws of sub judice apply in the US.

I’m no lawyer but I’m sure we are unlikely to ever see a pre-trial musical in Australia, based on a case such as the current ‘Mushroom Murders’. The law here clearly affirms the right of persons facing legal proceedings to have a fair trial, unprejudiced by media comment. Perhaps they need to add the word ‘musicals’.

On the other hand if a particular villain or criminal has been tried and imprisoned or even better deceased, the door is wide open to celebrate their notoriety with a musical.

It’s already been achieved a number of times in Australia, notably with the late 70s production of Ned Kelly (aka Ned Kelly: The Electric Music Show) and the more recent 2013 number Chopper The Musical. Based on the life of career criminal turned comedian Mark Brandon Reid, it featured such delightful ditties as ‘Harden The Fuck Up’. I’ve yet to catch an encore performance but I believe it does include the true life episode where Uncle Chop Chop had his ear cut off in Pentridge. A bucket load of plastic ears hurled into the audience, as part of the drama, would surely bring the house down.

Given the interest in the Mangione musical, it appears that the ‘true crime’ musical is ready for a resurgence, particularly in a world obsessed with celebrity and influencers, not to mention a daily avalanche of fake news. The current trial of robbers accused of relieving Kim Kardashian of millions in fancy jewellery is ripe for an all singing, all dancing stage adaptation. The title is already there – I Held Up Kim Kardashian. It’s the book written by robber Yunice Abbas, who may well be interested in surrendering the stage rights for a much reduced prison sentence.

“We’re so sorry Kim that we stole your jewellery,
We were just having fun – some harmless tom foolery,
It might have been reckless to steal your diamond necklace,
But harden the fuck up – you’re not getting it back!”

True crime has always been a big seller whether it’s a book, a Netflix doco, a movie recreation or a podcast. Many of us have a morbid fascination with murder, mayhem and depravity and the media is always there to highlight the latest atrocity or senseless killing. Whether a musical is an appropriate medium to tell the story of some evil murderer or violent criminal is open to question, but the Mangione musical certainly oversteps previous moral and legal boundaries.

America has already experienced a low budget off Broadway production in New York, titled True Crime The Musical, a kind of ‘Cluedo’ on stage where audience members are invited to take part in an improvised play suggesting victim, location and murder weapon. It’s immersive and interactive without a drop of real or even fake blood being shed. Hey — murder can be a game show folks!

Perhaps it’s a precursor to a series of musicals that precede infamous murder cases, such as the Mangione circus or a kind of singalong in the court of public opinion. The modern day ‘true crime’ musical could also focus on those whose criminality, or alleged criminality is yet to face appropriate legal charges with sub judice right out the window.

For example, think of somebody in the US who has already been convicted in a civil trial of sexual battery and described by the judge as a rapist. Somebody who was a close confidant of one of America’s worst paedophiles, and is already a convicted felon. Somebody who has profited shamelessly by abusing his position financially whilst in office and attracted an army of mindless supporters. Surely there’s a musical awaiting, to premiere at the Kennedy Centre with the Village People and Kid Rock invited to host the singalong.

Put me down for two tickets in the dress circle!