Illinoise
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| Illinoise | |
|---|---|
| A New Musical | |
 Broadway Promotional Poster | |
| Music | Sufjan Stevens |
| Lyrics | Sufjan Stevens |
| Book | Justin Peck Jackie Sibblies Drury |
| Basis | Illinois by Sufjan Stevens |
| Premiere | June 23, 2023: Fisher Center |
| Productions | 2023 Bard College 2024 Chicago 2024 Off-Broadway 2024 Broadway |
Illinoise is a 2023 dance revue musical with music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens and an original story by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury. The musical was inspired by Stevens' 2005 album Illinois. The show is directed and choreographed by Peck. After summer festival and regional productions and an off-Broadway tryout, the show debuted on Broadway in April 2024 at the St. James Theatre.[1]
Production history[edit]
Bard College (2023)[edit]
The musical, originally titled Illinois, premiered at the Fisher Center at Bard College, running from June 23 until July 2, 2023, during the Bard SummerScape. Direction and choreography were by Justin Peck.[2][3]
Chicago (2024)[edit]
The show was next staged at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater from January 28 to February 18, 2024.[4]
Off-Broadway (2024)[edit]
The show opened in New York off-Broadway at the Park Avenue Armory on March 2, 2024, and closed on March 26, 2024. Orchestrations were by Timo Andres.[5]
Broadway (2024)[edit]
The production transferred to the St. James Theatre on Broadway on April 24, 2024. It is scheduled to play a limited engagement through August 10, 2024. Peck directed and choreographed; set design is by Adam Rigg, with lighting by Brandon Stirling Baker, and costumes by Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung.[6][7]
Cast and characters[edit]
| Character | Chicago[4] | Off-Broadway[8] | Broadway[9] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Clark | Robert Fairchild | Brandt Martinez | |
| Henry | Ricky Ubeda | ||
| Jo Daviess | Jeanette Delgado | ||
| Shelby | Gaby Diaz | ||
| Marion | Kara Chan | ||
| Douglas | Ahmad Simmons | ||
| Cass | Byron Tittle | ||
| Morgan | Rachel Lockhart | ||
| Boone | Craig Salstein | ||
| Carl | Ben Cook | ||
| Wayne | Alejandro Vargas | ||
| Knox | Christine Flores | ||
| Barsine (vocalist) | Shara Nova | ||
| Nacna (vocalist) | Tasha | ||
| Arctiini (vocalist) | Elijah Lyons | ||
Characters are named after counties located in Illinois.[10]
Musical numbers[edit]
- "Prologue (or, A Conjuction of Drones...)"
Act I
- "Three Stars (or, Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois)"
- "The Long Hike"
- "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!"
- "a story about Jacksonville"
- "a story about Zombies"
- "a story about John Wayne Gacy, Jr."
- "a story about The Man of Metropolis"
Act II
- "Decatur"
- "Chicago"
- "To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament"
- "Casimir Pulaski Day"
- "Prairie Fire That Wanders About"
- "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!"
- "In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth"
- "The Seer's Tower"
- "A Conjunction of Drones, again"
Act III
- "Chicago (reprise)"
- "The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders"
- "Epilogue (or, Riffs and Variations...and Out of Egypt...)"
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Drama League Awards[11] | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Pending | |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards[12] | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical | Pending | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Ricky Ubeda | Pending | ||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Ben Cook | Pending | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury | Pending | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Timo Andres | Pending | ||
| Outstanding Choreography (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Justin Peck | Pending | ||
References[edit]
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (February 28, 2024). "In Justin Peck's 'Illinoise', Dance On and Feel It". The New York Times.
- ^ "New Musical Illinois by Jackie Sibblies Drury, Justin Peck, and Sufjan Stevens to Make World Premiere | Playbill".
- ^ "Illinois". Fisher Center at Bard. August 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Illinoise". www.chicagoshakes.com.
- ^ "Illinoise: Program & Events". Park Avenue Armory.
- ^ Evans, Greg (March 19, 2024). "Sufjan Stevens Musical Illinoise Heading To Broadway as Late-Season Entry in Crowded Spring". Deadline.
- ^ "Vocalists of dance musical 'Illinoise' will repeat performances on Broadway". Broadway News. April 5, 2024.
- ^ "Cast and More Details Announced for Illinoise at Park Avenue Armory - TheaterMania.com". 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "CAST & CREATIVES". ILLINOISE A New Broadway Musical. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2024-04-22). "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Awards. Playbill. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2024-04-23). "Dead Outlaw Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Awards. Playbill. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
