Bill Burr Is Headed to Broadway
It’s not unusual for comedians like Mike Birbiglia, Colin Quinn or Alex Edelman to bring shows to Broadway, says New York Theatre Guide. So when the news came out today that comic Bill Burr was headed to Broadway as well, it wasn’t that shocking — until you learn that Burr won’t be doing stand-up at all. Instead, the guy whose most famous acting credit is The Mandalorian is taking on David Mamet.
Burr is joining Bob Odenkirk and Kieran Culkin in a revival of Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Glengarry Glenn Ross, set to open in the spring of 2025. While Odenkirk (Mr. Show) and Culkin (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) also come from comedy backgrounds, their serious acting chops are well established, with nine Emmy nominations for dramatic acting between them. Culkin also has a Broadway notch on his belt, appearing in 2014’s This is Our Youth.
As for Burr, well, he played John F. Kennedy in Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tart movie, does that count?
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To be fair, Burr has gotten good reviews for his work in Old Dads and as Pete Davidson’s stepfather in King of Staten Island. But is he ready for Broadway?
Lucky for Burr, no part could be more tailored for his explosive comedy skills than “Dave Moss, the big-mouth, often ranting salesman.” Watch Ed Harris spitting swear words in the film version of Glengarry Glen Ross, and it’s easy to conclude, “Yeah, I could see Burr on that kind of tirade.”
If you’re a fan of Burr the stand-up comic, don’t worry — before he heads to the New York stage, he’ll finish up his Bill Burr Live tour and drop a new stand-up special on Hulu in 2025. Then he’ll Always Be Closing alongside Odenkirk and Culkin.
Fans are excited about the news. Or at least the ones leaving comments on Deadline are excited. “My god… Bill Burr as Dave Moss might be the greatest casting decision of the last quarter century,” wrote a reader going by Billy Broadway. “Ol’ Freckles is goin to Broooooadway!”