Music Theatre International Licenses Musical Dead Outlaw
The hit musical Dead Outlaw joins the catalog of Music Theatre International for future production.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Children’s Theater
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Music Theatre International has officially acquired the global licensing rights to the acclaimed musical Dead Outlaw. The production, which features a score by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna with a book by Itamar Moses, will now be available for performance.
Why it matters
The acquisition allows professional, community, and school theatres worldwide to stage this award-winning show. By adding Dead Outlaw to its catalog, the company expands its collection of contemporary works currently available for licensing.
Dead Outlaw received seven Tony Award nominations and won Best Musical honors from the Drama Desk, New York Drama Critics' Circle, and Outer Critics Circle. MTI, founded in 1952, currently serves approximately 100,000 theaters across 150 countries.
The players
Music Theatre International
This organization is a major licensing agency that grants performance rights to professional, community, and school theaters worldwide.
Audible
This company is a leading provider of digital audio entertainment and recorded the complete score and dialogue for the production.
The details
The musical premiered in 2024 at the Minetta Lane Theatre before debuting on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in 2025. Audible recorded the complete score and dialogue of the show in the style of a radio play.
Timeline
Music Theatre International was founded in 1952.
The production Dead Outlaw premiered at the Minetta Lane Theatre in 2024.
The show made its Broadway debut in 2025.
The acquisition of licensing rights was announced on October 29, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This move follows the path set by the 2025 Broadway debut of Dead Outlaw by transitioning the show from an exclusive stage run to the broader domestic and international theater market. The licensing acquisition marks a standard shift for successful Broadway productions aiming to build a legacy beyond the initial theater season.
Theater groups across the country can now begin planning future productions of the show for their local seasons. Interested performers and audience members should check their regional theater listings for upcoming announcements regarding local show dates.
The takeaway
Licensing deals provide the necessary framework for successful Broadway shows to reach a wider national audience. Local theaters often look to these professional catalogs to identify high-quality, proven material for their own upcoming seasons.
Further reading
Learn more about local productions in the United States Children’s Theater section.
More information
For more details on future production availability, visit the MTI musical licensing and information portal.
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