The show, spotlighted in Decrypt, features three controversial figures as main characters: Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), convicted FTX founder; rapper Sean Combs (P. Diddy), facing human trafficking allegations; and Luigi Mangione, the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
The musical places this trio as cellmates in a fictional version of New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center, referencing the real December 2024 episode when all three were held there simultaneously. Notably, both SBF and P. Diddy reportedly retained the same defense attorney.
Actor Andre Margatini’s portrayal of SBF opens with a TED Talk parody, lampooning Silicon Valley culture, singing “Bay Area Baby” where he dubs himself “the golden child of Palo Alto,” and humorously proposes to the jailer the concept of “tokenizing incarceration.”
“We’re all fascinated by systems—healthcare, technology, entertainment,” commented lead actor Johnny Stein to CNN, underlining the play’s thematic ambitions.
Despite controversy surrounding the participation of characters based on individuals with ongoing criminal cases, the production received standing ovations from the audience, as highlighted by local media.
The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed the performance as a sharp metaphor for systemic crisis: SBF symbolizes the downfall of the “crypto king,” Mangione embodies the collapse of healthcare, and Combs represents the darker side of show business.
The musical’s popularity prompted organizers to schedule further performances, including a major show at The Independent on July 13, which can accommodate up to 500 attendees.
Background: SBF is currently incarcerated in a low-security Los Angeles prison, with the Federal Bureau of Prisons listing his expected release date as December 14, 2044.