''Illinoise'' is a 2023 dance revue
musical with music and lyrics by
Sufjan Stevens and an original story by
Justin Peck
Justin Peck (born September 8, 1987) is an American choreographer, director, and dancer associated with New York City Ballet, of which he was appointed Resident Choreographer in July 2014, being the second person in the history of the instituti ...
and
Jackie Sibblies Drury
Jackie Sibblies Drury is an American playwright. ''The New York Times'' called Drury's 2012 play '' We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the ...
. The musical was inspired by Stevens' 2005 album ''
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
''. The show is directed and choreographed by Peck. After summer festival and regional productions and an
off-Broadway tryout, the show debuted on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
in April 2024 at the
St. James Theatre. Reviews were positive, and the musical received 4 nominations at the
77th Tony Awards, including
Best Musical.
Production history
Bard College (2023)
The musical, originally titled ''Illinois'', premiered at the
Fisher Center at
Bard College
Bard College is a private liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. The campus overlooks the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, and is within the Hudson River Historic District—a National Historic Landmark.
Founded in 1860, ...
, running from June 23 until July 2, 2023, during the
Bard SummerScape. Direction and choreography were by
Justin Peck
Justin Peck (born September 8, 1987) is an American choreographer, director, and dancer associated with New York City Ballet, of which he was appointed Resident Choreographer in July 2014, being the second person in the history of the instituti ...
.
Chicago (2024)
The show was next staged at the
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a non-profit, professional theater company located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. Its more than six hundred annual performances performed 48 weeks of the year include its critically acclaimed Shakespeare s ...
from January 28 to February 18, 2024.
Off-Broadway (2024)
The show opened in New York
off-Broadway at the
Park Avenue Armory
__NOTOC__
The Park Avenue Armory Conservancy, generally known as Park Avenue Armory, is a nonprofit cultural institution within the historic Seventh Regiment Armory building located at 643 Park Avenue on New York City's Upper East Side. The ins ...
on March 2, 2024, and closed on March 26, 2024. Orchestrations were by
Timo Andres
Timo is a masculine given name. It is primarily used in Finnish, Estonian, Dutch and German societies. It may be used as an abbreviation of Timothy.
Arts and entertainment
*Timo Alakotila (born 1959), Finnish musician
* Timo Andres (born 1985), ...
.
Broadway (2024)
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.
Cast and characters
Characters are named after counties located in Illinois.
/ref>
Musical numbers
* "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 (Sufjan Stevens song), 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
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
2023 musicals
Musicals set in Illinois
Dance in theatre
Broadway musicals
Sufjan Stevens