“Wanted” opened at Broadway’s James Earl Jones Theatre, presenting the musical about two impoverished Black sisters in 1890s Texas who pass as white to rob their way to buying their mother’s farm, after a 12-year development process, Deadline reported.
The production tells audiences from the start that the events on stage are “mostly true,” framing the story as family lore shaped for the stage.
Twelve Years in Development
Originally titled “Gun & Powder,” the show began in 2015 as part of the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, according to SeatPlan. It received a sold-out world premiere at Virginia’s Signature Theatre in 2020 and a subsequent run at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2024, where it earned a New York Times Critic’s Pick. The musical had aimed to premiere on Broadway in early 2025 following a summer workshop.
Clarke Sisters Pass as White
Set in 1893 Texas, the musical follows Mary and Martha Clarke, twin sisters who use their light skin to pass as white while staging armed robberies at saloons and churches to settle their mother’s debt, SeatPlan reported. Their motives stem from their mother Tallulah’s humiliation when a white landowner rejects her offer to buy the cotton land she has worked for years.
The sisters labor on the cotton plantation their mother hopes to own, carrying out robberies with a single gun holding no bullets.
Mary falls for the wealthy white Jesse, while Martha flirts with Elijah, Jesse’s Black servant; both romances force the sisters to hide their identities as the lyrics remind audiences that lynching is ever-present. Mary abandons their goal of saving the farm as she enjoys the good life, while Martha remains true to their mother’s values.
Cast Members Play the Clarke Sisters
Solea Pfeiffer and Liisi LaFontaine play Mary and Martha, with Ledisi as Tallulah, Luke James as Elijah, and Bradley Jaden as Jesse, Deadline reported. Aurelia Williams and Awa Sal Secka play the Black maids Sissy and Flo. Angelica Chéri, a descendant of the real Clarke sisters, wrote the book and lyrics, with music by Ross Baum and direction by Stevie Walker-Webb.
Pfeiffer’s credits include the first national tour of Hamilton, West Side Story at the Hollywood Bowl, Evita, Hadestown, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and A Jazzman’s Blues. LaFontaine debuted in the 2016 West End Dreamgirls and appeared in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Drag: The Musical. Walker-Webb is an Obie Award winner and Tony nominee whose credits include Ain’t No Mo’, One in Two and Black Odyssey.
Gospel Score Meets Uneven Tone
Deadline found the show “spirited but uneven,” noting that Ross Baum’s score relies heavily on “soaring gospel indulgences” that allow the cast to belt, yet struggles to maintain consistency between its lighthearted crime-spree opening and its later turn toward historical revenge fantasy. The late-arriving Sissy and Flo serve as comic stock characters who provide exposition and comic relief, including use of the word “turkey” as an insult.
Creative Team and Design
The production features music director Austin Cook and choreographer Chelsey Arce, according to SeatPlan. Deadline noted tonal inconsistencies in Emilio Sosa’s costume design, which shifted from period attire to anachronistic looks including a “Sexy Gunslinger” outfit for the climactic scene.
Previews Begin October 2026 at James Earl Jones Theatre
Previews at the James Earl Jones Theatre are scheduled to begin in October 2026, with a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission. The venue sits in the heart of Times Square.
Questions About the Musical Wanted
Who wrote the musical ‘Wanted’?
Angelica Chéri, a real-life descendant of the Clarke sisters, wrote the book and lyrics, and Ross Baum composed the music, Deadline reported.
What is ‘Wanted’ the musical about?
The show is based on the true story of Mary and Martha Clarke, African-American twin sisters in 1893 Texas who passed as white to rob the money needed to buy their mother’s farm, according to SeatPlan.
When does ‘Wanted’ open on Broadway?
Previews begin in October 2026 at the James Earl Jones Theatre in Times Square.
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