{{Short description|2024 play}}{{Infobox play | name = Kenrex | image = KenrexPoster.jpg | caption = Original London Production Poster | writer = Jack Holden & Ed Stambollouian | based_on = The story of Ken McElroy | director = Ed Stambollouian | music = John Patrick Elliott | lyrics = John Patrick Elliott | premiere = 26 October 2024 | place = Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, Sheffield | genre = True crime }}
'''''Kenrex''''' is a true-crime thriller play that dramatizes the real-life events surrounding the 1981 killing of Ken Rex McElroy in Skidmore, Missouri. It's co-written by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian. It also features an original score by John Patrick Elliott. It had its world premiere at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse in Sheffield in October 2024.
== Synopsis == The play is set in the rural town of Skidmore, Missouri, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period of economic decline for the local farming community. The narrative centers on the reign of terror led by Ken Rex McElroy, a local man who had spent decades intimidating the town through a cycle of cattle rustling, arson, and assault. Despite being indicted for dozens of felonies over twenty years, McElroy consistently avoided conviction by threatening witnesses and exploiting legal loopholes, earning him a reputation as an "untouchable" outlaw.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Jesse |title=Review: ‘Kenrex’ Turns True Crime Into a Rock Show |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/theater/kenrex-review.html |work={{!}}The New York Times |date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-05-24}}</ref>
== Production history ==
=== Sheffield (2024) === The play received its world premiere as part of Sheffield Theatre's 2024{{endash}}25 season. It began performances on 26 October at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse and ran through 16 November.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editorial |first=West End Theatre |date=2024-03-08 |title=KENREX written by and starring Jack Holden to premiere at Sheffield Theatres {{!}} West End Theatre |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/225638/news/kenrex-written-by-and-starring-jack-holden-to-premiere-at-sheffield-theatres/ |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== London (2025) === The production transferred to the Southwark Playhouse Borough on 14 February 2025 and ran through 16 March. Holden reprised his performance from Sheffield.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Kenrex to transfer to London following Sheffield premiere |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/kenrex-to-transfer-to-london-following-sheffield-premiere_1652450/ |access-date=2026-03-11 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The production subsequently returned to London at The Other Palace in late 2025. Performances began on 3 December 2025 and ran through 1 February 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editorial |first=West End Theatre |date=2025-08-05 |title=Kenrex starring Jack Holden to return to London at The Other Palace Theatre {{!}} West End Theatre |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/306000/news/kenrex-starring-jack-holden-to-return-to-london-for-christmas-season-at-the-other-palace/ |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> The production was subsequently nominated for 6 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Play.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2026 Archives {{!}} Official London Theatre |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2026/ |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=officiallondontheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> It won two of them: Jack Holden took Best Actor and Giles Thomas took Best Sound Design.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=How to See True Crime Thriller Kenrex for $32 |url=https://playbill.com/article/how-to-see-true-crime-thriller-kenrex-for-32 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260416211051/https://playbill.com/article/how-to-see-true-crime-thriller-kenrex-for-32 |archive-date=2026-04-16 |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Dominic |date=2026-04-12 |title=Olivier Awards 2026 winners: Rachel Zegler and Rosamund Pike deserved to win |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/olivier-awards-2026-winners-full-list-vvrcwppjk |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=The Times |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barekat |first=Houman |last2=Wolf |first2=Matt |last3=Felder |first3=Tess |date=2026-04-13 |title=As London Celebrates the Best of Theater, Musicals Are All the Rage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/arts/olivier-awards-winners-critics.html |access-date=2026-04-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
=== Off-Broadway (2026) === The production made its North American premiere Off-Broadway in New York City on April 16 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, with Holden reprising his performance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-27 |title=Kenrex with Jack Holden to transfer to New York |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/kenrex-with-jack-holden-to-transfer-to-new-york_1710130/ |access-date=2026-03-11 |language=en-US|website=Whats On Stage|last=Wood|first=Alex}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=Joey |date=7 April 2026 |title=KENREX Unfolds Like a True Crime Podcast Onstage, and Jack Holden is At the Center |url=https://www.theatrely.com/post/kenrex-unfolds-like-a-true-crime-podcast-onstage-and-jack-holden-is-at-the-center |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Theatrely |language=en}}</ref> The production received positive reviews,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Jesse |title=Review: ‘Kenrex’ Turns True Crime Into a Rock Show |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/theater/kenrex-review.html |work={{!}}The New York Times |date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-05-24}}</ref> and was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards, with Holden winning Outstanding Solo Performance and composer John Patrick Elliott winning Outstanding Music in a Play.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=May 17, 2026 |title=Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners |url=https://playbill.com/article/ragtime-leads-2026-drama-desk-awards-read-the-full-list-of-winners |website=Playbill |access-date=May 24, 2026}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == ===2025 London production=== {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" ! style="width:5%;" |Year ! style="width:20%;" |Award ! style="width:40%;" |Category ! style="width:25%;" |Nominee ! style="width:10%;" |Result ! style="width:10%;" |Ref. |- | rowspan="6" |2026 | rowspan="6" |Laurence Olivier Awards<ref>{{Cite web |title=2026 Archives {{!}} Official London Theatre |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2026/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=officiallondontheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> |Best New Play |Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian |{{nom}} |- |Best Actor |Jack Holden |{{won}} |- |Best Director |Ed Stambollouian |{{nominated}} |- |Best Lighting Design |Joshua Pharo |{{nom}} |- |Best Sound Design |Giles Thomas |{{won}} |- |Outstanding Musical Contribution |John Patrick Elliott <small>(composition)</small> |{{nom}} |} ===2026 Off-Broadway production=== {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" ! style="width:5%;" |Year ! style="width:20%;" |Award ! style="width:40%;" |Category ! style="width:25%;" |Nominee ! style="width:10%;" |Result ! style="width:10%;" |Ref. |- |rowspan=4|2026 |rowspan=3|Drama Desk Award |Outstanding Solo Performance |Jack Holden |{{won}} |rowspan=3|<ref>{{cite web |title=2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced: Full List |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207042/2026-drama-desk-award-nominations-announced-full-list/ |website=Broadway.com |date=April 29, 2026 |access-date=April 30, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |title=Beau, Mexodus Lead 2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations; Read the Full List Here |url=https://playbill.com/article/beau-mexodus-lead-2026-drama-desk-award-nominations-read-the-full-list-here |website=Playbill |date=April 29, 2026 |access-date=April 30, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=May 17, 2026 |title=Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners |url=https://playbill.com/article/ragtime-leads-2026-drama-desk-awards-read-the-full-list-of-winners |website=Playbill |access-date=May 19, 2026}}</ref> |- |Outstanding Music in a Play |John Patrick Elliott |{{won}} |- |Outstanding Sound Design of a Play |Giles Thomas |{{nom}} |- |Outer Critics Circle Award |Outstanding Solo Performance |Jack Holden |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/schmigadoon-ragtime-win-big-at-2026-outer-critics-circle-awards-read-the-full-list-of-winners |title=Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners |website=Playbill |access-date=May 24, 2026}}</ref> |}
== References == <references />
Category:2024 plays Category:Thriller plays Category:True crime Category:Plays set in the 20th century Category:Nodaway County, Missouri