An Eccentric Icon

The York Theatre Company’s world premiere of the musical biography Truly, Howard Hughes brings to the stage the life and times of one of the most intriguing, eccentric and talked about public figures of the 20th century. Led by director and choreographer Jennifer Paulson-Lee, the original score is composed by James Scully, who also co-wrote the book alongside Frank Evans and Paulson-Lee - Scully having won the Stanley Drama Award for a previous version of the book, under the name Flight. Complemented by the lyrics of Evans and Chad Gorn, this exploration of a business titan and American icon lands at the York Theatre in October.

What Is It About?

Howard Hughes was the ultimate archetype of American ambition: a record-breaking aviator, a visionary Hollywood filmmaker, and a ruthless business magnate whose fortune made him one of the wealthiest men in the world. He was also known for his eccentric behavior and episodes of complete isolation, partly attributed to his suffering from OCD in an era when neurodivergence was less understood. In this theatrical rendering, the dying billionaire is forced to look past his massive commercial triumphs to confront the emotional wreckage of his past, including his high-profile relationships and the intimate connections his wealth could never protect.