Parody music icon “Weird Al” Yankovic is heading to Broadway with Dare to Be Stupid: The Weird Al Musical, a stage show that will transform the Grammy-winning entertainer’s beloved catalog into an original theatrical comedy led by an acclaimed creative team.
Currently in development, Dare to Be Stupid will be directed by Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge) and written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, the duo behind Gutenberg! The Musical! and Beetlejuice. Tony Award-winning production company Seaview, known for acclaimed productions including Every Brilliant Thing and The Fear of 13, is producing the musical.
Yankovic, who has spent five decades turning pop culture into comedy gold through hit song parodies and original novelty tracks, remains one of the most successful comedy musicians in entertainment history. Across a career spanning more than 12 million albums sold, Yankovic has earned multiple Grammy Awards, numerous gold and platinum records, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to classics such as “White & Nerdy,” “Amish Paradise,” “Eat It,” other notable Yankovic releases that will be incorporated into Dare to Be Stupid include “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Like a Surgeon,” and “Running With Scissors.”
“Ever since I was a middle-aged man, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the New York theatre community,” said Yankovic in a statement. “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.”
“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 added in a statement. “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.”
According to Seaview CEO Greg Nobile, Dare to Be Stupid is “powered by the unmistakable heart that has made ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic a singular voice in American culture.” He added that the live show will be the rare musical that’s equal parts original and humorous. “Beneath the absurdity and the joy, is a show about creativity, individuality, and the freedom to be unapologetically yourself,” Nobile said in a statement before commending the project’s namesake and creative leads. “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.”
Throughout his career, Yankovic has made light of his own life, like he has of popular artists’ songs. In addition to his memorable TV series The Weird Al Show, the 66-year-old has produced two satirical films about his own life. The first, The Compleat Al, was released in 1985, while the more recent doc, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, was unveiled in 2022.
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An official premiere date for Dare to Be Stupid: The Weird Al Musical has not yet been announced.
From Rolling Stone US
