ILLINOISE Reviews- Page 2

[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

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:31am

Contact took a lot of flak because it used pre-recorded backing tracks, while Illinoise has a live band and vocalists. 

Updated On: 4/25/24 at 09:31 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:47am

Illinoise seems far closer to something like Movin' Out than anything else.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:49am

It’s really not as complicated as people are making it out to be. It’s a theatrical show with music, dancing, and storytelling. I don’t have any issue with it in the musical category and I hope it wins Best Musical. What a thrill that something swept in at the eleventh hour to shake up this very disappointing season.

[EvanHansen]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 10:58am

I saw this last night and thought it was the best production this season, by far. Gorgeous. I, too, hope it wins Best Musical (and Choreography). 

[BJR]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 11:15am

Kad said: "Illinoise seems far closer to something like Movin' Out than anything else."

Oh 100%

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 11:43am

This is the ONLY new musical this year that I've loved. I'm team Illinoise for the win! (I don't see how it won't be nominated.)

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 11:46am

Yes. Illinoise for the win.

[Mitch101]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 3:52pm

I can only speak (this week) to what I saw at the Armory… but having seen all of this seasons musicals Illinoise is by far the best musical of the season. Stunning night. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 4:43pm

I have an absolutely silly question: How is this pronounced?  With or without the 'S'.  I've been assuming WITH, because of the inclusion of the E.  (Ill-i-noise)   But since the title refers to the state, maybe not. 

Anyone know??

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 5:10pm

dramamama611 said: "I have an absolutely silly question: How is this pronounced? With or without the 'S'. I've been assuming WITH, because of the inclusion of the E. (Ill-i-noise) But since the title refers to the state, maybe not.

Anyone know??"

It’s pronounced as written (ill-i-noise) and is an allusion to the cover art of Sufjan’s album Illinois (pronounced like the state), which says “Come on! Feel the Illinoise!”

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 5:28pm

Excellent, thank you!

 

Does anyone think we will get a new recording?  I've been listening to the original album, but would love to hear these voices again!

[Sammy232]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 5:41pm

dramamama611 said: "Excellent, thank you!



Does anyone think we will get a new recording? I've been listening to the original album, but would love to hear these voices again!"

I sure hope so, the orchestrations were really incredible.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 5:55pm

Hate to be that person, but just curious how sightlines are for this production at the St. James. Eagerly excited for this next month, and I have tickets in the front mezz. Will I be fine up there or should I spring to upgrade to the orchestra?

[Mitch101]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 7:23pm

Stay in your seats so you can experience all of the magic of the lighting and get a better view of the singers and band. You have excellent seats.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 8:31pm

Which seat, center, extreme sides? House right? Left? 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 8:43pm

You’ll be fine. It’s a dance show and they only use downstage so you’ll have a perfect picture of the gorgeous lighting and the whole picture. 

[Danasi]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:05pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Hate to be that person, but just curious how sightlines are for this production at the St. James. Eagerly excited for this next month, and I have tickets in the front mezz. Will I be fine up there or should I spring to upgrade to the orchestra?"

I had row J in the mezz, on the left side, and I thought it was a great seat to see everything on stage (just narrow, but my seat mates and I worked it out).  Granted, the aisle was in front of row J so that helped limit any heads in the way. I could see all the singers and almost all of the band, the musicians to stage right were maybe slightly blocked

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:13pm

I saw this afternoon's matinee and thought everything about it was absolutely stunning. It's been a while since a show moved me that much. Beautiful work from everyone involved, from the dancers to the musicians to the vocalists to the designers, and a special shoutout to Jackie Sibblies Drury who I'm sure helped to shape the narrative as the co-bookwriter. They've really created something special here, and for my money it totally qualifies as a musical. Justin Peck's choreography and direction are spectacular and thrilling and so deeply felt. 

For anyone wondering, I got tickets through TDF and my seats were left front mezz and I thought they were perfect. We were far back enough to take in the whole stage and the band and singers, but still close enough to see the dancers' facial expressions. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 9:16pm

I'll just add: if avoid the extreme house left...ANYWHERE in the theater. You can't see the changing billboard. Is it a deal breaker? No. I was in the mezz, Row B, seat 19... Couldn't see it, but could see everything else beautifully. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 10:33pm

I am NOT a fan of modern dance. It's just not my jam. I can appreciate it for what it is but it's not something I've ever been able to get into. So going into this tonight I was happy it was only 90 mins - in and out and then I'll have seen everything this season. As we stood up, my friend asked if I was ok. I guess I had been audibly sobbing, my face totally wet. I haven't been moved by something to this degree in quite a while. And like I said to him, while I might not be able to tell you EXACTLY what the whole thing was about, I can tell you how it made me feel. And it absolutely destroyed me.

Five stars. Just remarkable storytelling. 

Updated On: 4/25/24 at 10:33 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 10:42pm

Felt the same way.  You FEEL everything.  This is the one.

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 10:45pm

https://youtu.be/ZEW2wn2HcIo?si=QecyZd8SynLGwH7X

[kurtal]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 10:54pm

I saw today’s matinee. I also saw it at Bard and the Armory. 

And I can’t overstate how much I love this show. It feels tighter and richer than at the Armory. They expanded the danceable space just a hair.  The sound and lighting is superb. Brandt Martinez slays the Superman number. Ricky Ubeda is heartbreaking. 

The whole thing is absolute theatrical splendor. Near perfection. I was in tears from some of the opening chords, and they never stopped. 

And then I saw The Wiz tonight. So, you know, highs and lows. 

[Markie27]

Posted: 4/25/24 at 11:07pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Hate to be that person, but just curious how sightlines are for this production at the St. James. Eagerly excited for this next month, and I have tickets in the front mezz. Will I be fine up there or should I spring to upgrade to the orchestra?"

I sat at Row D at the Front Mezz and unfortunately I did not like the slope of the Saint James as even an above average height person obstructed my view of the down stage where all the dancers perform.  But fortunately the next seat was empty and I have a clear view of the center stage  and see their wondrous facial expressions.  Also for those wondering I noticed the stage is quite high as you would need to crane your necks if you are in the first row.  I sat in the first row at the Armory but the seats  were placed farther from the stage and enjoyed that immensely.  
 

Comparing Orchestra and Mezzanine, I enjoyed the facial expressions of the cast obviously more when I was near them at the Armory and there are many emotional dance duets in the show that i loved seeing up close but I still can enjoy the large group dancing which looked even grander when I was at the Mezzanine at the Saint James.  The only thing that I think made it more emotional when I was sitting at the Mez is the sublime lighting design of this show.  I think that added to the heart rendering emotion that I had even more watching it the second time.  So both sights have advantages and both can give you equally enjoyable, heart wrenching night at the theater.  
 

side shallow note - I think the disadvantage of being too close to the actors is seeing and getting distracted at how gorgeous Robbie Fairchild was.  Even though he was mostly in the background I always seem to levitate and set my gaze to him.  Damn I was swooning in the entirety of his Man of a steel solo!  The one who replaced him on Broadway Brandt Martinez is gorgeous and equally talented as well.  

Updated On: 4/25/24 at 11:07 PM