ILLINOISE Reviews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:00am

All things go… to Broadway.

The impressionistic dance piece Illinoise makes its way to the Main Stem, as performances begin tomorrow night (April 24) at the St. James Theatre following a well-received run last month at the Park Avenue Armory. In a rare move, the musical is bypassing the traditional preview period to sneak into Tony Awards consideration at the last minute; the matinee on the 24th will be their opening night performance, and reviews will be published on April 26 at 1 PM. Illinoise uses music from the 2005 Sufjan Stevens concept album Illinois and is built around an original story by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury; Peck also directs and choreographs. Featured dancers include Ben Cook, Gaby Diaz, Ricky Ubeda, and Ahmad Simmons; the band will be accompanied by live vocalists Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, and Tasha Viets-VanLear. The onstage company also includes Kara Chan, Jeanette Delgado, Christine Flores, Rachel Lockhart, Brandt Martinez, Craig Salstein, Byron Tittle, and Alejandro Vargas. Illinoise runs through August 10.

“Based on the landmark Sufjan Stevens album, Illinoise is told through live music performed by an 11-member band, three vocalists and impressionistic choreography. As friends gather around a campfire, sharing stories of first love, grief, and growing up, director and choreographer Justin Peck and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury craft an experience that bursts with feeling.”

Who’s heading to the campfire?

Updated On: 4/23/24 at 12:00 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 7:45am

Curious to hear about these. First new Broadway show to open without any previews?

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 8:33am

ACL2006 said: "Curious to hear about these. First new Broadway show to open without any previews?"

I imagine it'll be like any snap transfer and the reviews will mostly be copy/pasted from the Armory run. 

[EthelMae]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 10:11am

I thought this was going to be an impossible ticket after the Armory reviews and from the chat lines. It’s on TDF, where I purchased a ticket, and today this site announced Digital and In Person Rush plus a Lottery. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 10:26am

It's a giant theater, so I don't think they're expecting to sell out. But I'm happy I saw this in Chicago. It's a terrific show and hopefully it catches on.

[Bobster159]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 10:28am

Looking at the seating charts online, it's sadly selling really badly (and they're not even selling the balcony). Maybe it's not that surprising; the Armory was set up for this show with a fairly small capacity, and it was a very short run. One week in the St. James is about the same number of people as the whole Armory run. I am not sure reviews will help either since they're already out there.

Good luck to them; it's a good enough show, but the rapid transfer might well prove to be a big error.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 2:37pm

Official website lists a 90-minute runtime, no intermission. 

If anyone’s going this afternoon, would love to hear your thoughts below!

[inception]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 3:08pm

Every off-Bwy show: "It's so good, but it's selling out & I can't see it (again).  It should move to Bwy!"

Show moves to Bwy: "This will be such a mistake.  It will never sell. Everything that made it great will get lost in a bigger space."

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 3:57pm

This is a very special show. Moving and unique with a beautiful and talented cast. Excited for its future.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 4:24pm

This is stunning. I have no words yet. 

 

Started late, about 2:17? Was in the lobby at 3:55 (ish).

 

 

[Markie27]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 4:40pm

(Sigh)…. In a perfect world Ricky Ubeda and Ben Cook would be nominated for best lead and featured respectively.  God that was beautiful!  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 4:45pm

Did they have a red carpet? Any special events or announcements?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 5:10pm

This will survive on word of mouth and social media. They just started and will likely sweep a lot of the awards. 

[CJRochester]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 6:07pm

Here's the curtain call from today's opening performance. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1162232448550614

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 6:21pm

Super excited to see this on Saturday.

[RW3]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 6:31pm

For clarity, are we considering the show to be a jukebox musical?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 6:53pm

RW3 said: "For clarity, are we considering the show to be a jukebox musical?"

This is really its own thing, a beautiful mix of dance, music, storytelling and theatre. It’s singular for sure but reminded me of American Idiot and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 7:22pm

ACL2006 said: "Did they have a red carpet? Any special events or announcements?"

Nothing at all.

[kurtal]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 7:51pm

RW3 said: "For clarity, are we considering the show to be a jukebox musical?"

By the broadest definition of jukebox musical, I guess.  But I'd call it an album-length narrative dance show.  

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 9:17pm

Are these definitely supposed to come out tonight? Maybe because it’s so rushed, the critics are watching now and have to get home to write their reviews - like the olden days.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/24/24 at 9:19pm

DramaTeach said: "Are these definitely supposed to come out tonight? Maybe because it’s so rushed, the critics are watching now and have to get home to write their reviews - like the olden days."

4/26 at 1 PM

[Miss10036]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 12:34am

That was some spellbinding storytelling!  I loved this tonight.  Especially the second and third "acts" which settle into one particular, affecting narrative, as opposed to the first "act" which is more individual stories - those numbers are enjoyable, but the show really came alive for me once we got to Henry's story.  It's exquisitely choreographed and directed, the vocals and orchestrations sound fantastic, and the dancers perform it all beautifully.  Musical, direction, choreography, and orchestration nominations seem like a given to me, hopefully sound and lighting too, and I'd love to see the book and Ricky Ubeda (who's a big part of why this works so well) get nominated for this.  What a breath of fresh air.

Here's hoping this gorgeous show builds strong word of mouth and gets the awards season love it deserves.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 12:39am

kurtal said: "RW3 said: "For clarity, are we considering the show to be a jukebox musical?"

By the broadest definition of jukebox musical, I guess. But I'd call it an album-length narrative dance show. "

If it wins Best Musical y'all gonna whine about it for decades like with Contact : Illinoise wasn't even a musical, bwaaaaah

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 12:42am

Book, Ubeda (lead), Ben Cook (supporting), Best Musical, Direction, Choreography, Orchestrations are necessary and deserved nominations..  This was excellent tonight.

[yyys]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:29am

funny my friend said last night after seeing it: "I thought this was a musical?"

It'll be interesting if it gets nominated.....to me it fits the Best Special Theatrical event category that the Tony's discontinued.

 

blaxx said: "kurtal said: "RW3 said: "For clarity, are we considering the show to be a jukebox musical?"

By the broadest definition of jukebox musical, I guess. But I'd call it an album-length narrative dance show. "

If it wins Best Musical y'all gonna whine about it for decades like with Contact : Illinoise wasn't even a musical, bwaaaaah"

 

Updated On: 4/25/24 at 09:29 AM