'Luigi: The Musical' Sparks Outrage and Sells Out Fast
What do you get when you cross a satirical musical with a jailhouse lineup that includes an alleged healthcare assassin, a disgraced crypto king, and Sean "Diddy" Combs? If you guessed "Luigi: the Musical," you're somehow correct — and you're not alone in being stunned that it actually exists.
A Surreal Storyline Straight From the Headlines
Yes, this is really happening.
"Luigi: the Musical" is a dark comedy based on Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a Manhattan street shooting last December. Mangione allegedly used a ghost gun loaded with bullets engraved with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" — a direct nod, prosecutors say, to his frustrations with the health insurance system while seeking treatment for a chronic back injury, according to the Independent.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism, and the Justice Department is pursuing the death penalty.
The production debuted on June 13 at San Francisco's Taylor Street Theater and ran through June 28. Despite the sensitive subject matter and the ongoing legal proceedings, the show quickly sold out all five of its initially scheduled performances.
From Courtroom to Center Stage
The creative team behind "Luigi" includes director Nova Bradford and songwriter Arielle Johnson, with additional contributions from André Margatini and Caleb Zeringue.
The 60-minute show doesn't shy away from controversy — instead, it dives straight into it. According to the synopsis, "Luigi" is "a wildly irreverent, razor-sharp comedy" that imagines Mangione's backstory, complete with cameos by his real-life cellmates Sam Bankman-Fried and Diddy, according to Playbill.
Audience members witnessed musical numbers featuring a tap-dancing Sam Bankman-Fried singing about his Silicon Valley upbringing and privilege and Diddy strutting on stage in a sequined prison jumpsuit.
At one point, Mangione — played by Jonny Stein — breaks the fourth wall to comment on the very absurdity of the musical's existence, asking, "What sick f---s would buy tickets to that?" according to the Independent.
Apparently, quite a few.
Beyond Satire — A Deeper Message?
Despite the outrageous antics, the creators insist the show isn't meant to glorify Mangione or his alleged actions. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Bradford said the production aims to challenge how society projects meaning onto controversial figures, rather than celebrating or condemning them.
According to the play's website, the show explores why Luigi became a viral icon and asks audiences to consider why institutions like healthcare, tech, and celebrity culture have lost so much public trust.
"We're not here to make moral proclamations. We're here to explore, with humor and heart, how it feels to live through a time when the systems we're supposed to trust have stopped feeling trustworthy," the synopsis reads, according to Newsweek.
Community Response: Mixed Emotions and Sold-Out Shows
Reactions from attendees have been mixed. Some applauded the musical for daring to critique American systems through satire. One San Francisco theatergoer described it as "a fabulous criticism of the issues in society that lead people to commit violent acts," according to the Independent.
Others were more hesitant. One woman, visiting from Oakland, said, "Street assassinations are never a good development. That said, he is the avatar of very understandable rage at healthcare in the U.S.," according to the Independent.
The show opened amid a backdrop of political tension in California, with anti-ICE protests, military deployments, and ongoing legal clashes between state and federal authorities.
What's Next?
The team behind "Luigi" has promised additional performance dates, and with all original shows sold out, demand isn't slowing down.
For now, the musical stands as one of 2025's most unexpected theatrical events — a satire that refuses to pull punches, even when the subject matter is still unfolding in real time.
References: Luigi Mangione, Diddy and SBF walk into a jail: Wild musical about UnitedHealthcare assassination debuts in San Francisco | Luigi Mangione Is Now the Subject of a Musical | Luigi Mangione Musical Sells Out
