ILLINOISE Reviews- Page 4

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 11:11am

FYI, their in person rush today had ~30 people in line when the box office opened at 10am. Tickets are partial view in the orchestra. Looking at Seat Geek, both show are close to being sold out today.

[ScottK]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 11:56am

Well...you could offer your tix for sale on the THEATR app.  if it sells, you can get a great seat to ILLINOISE--otherwise, Wilkommen for you!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:15pm

Well, just hand this show the Tony already. There's no other new musical on Broadway this season that pulls you in immediately and tells a story as beautifully as ILLINOISE does. It's a sin Ubeda wasn't put into the lead actor Tony category. I'm still in awe of what I just saw. Gorgeous music, stunning lighting, beautiful dancers. Only issue(s) I had was the development of the smaller characters that kind of get unnoticed. The show is more or less centered around the three male leads. I desperately wanted more and the 90 minutes flew by.

Seating note: my partial view rush seat was slightly obstructed (right orchestra, E20). I saw the billboard but missed anything that happened on the second level. I really want to see this again but from a better seat. I thought about moving to the SRO section in the back, but wasn't sure if it was available. 

 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:23pm

I have many thoughts, so bear with me. I saw this almost a year ago at Bard, and the memory isn’t what it should be, but I’ll do my best. The book of this worked much better for me now than it did a year ago. I’m not sure if that’s because I knew what to expect or because there have been actual revisions. I was still moved to tears, but not as many because, again, I knew what was coming, and I’ve been ruminating on it for a year.


Those dancers are truly incredible. Every single one of them. I’m sure people will be upset if Ricky Ubeda wins best actor in a musical since he barely opens his mouth, but the man’s body is singing every one of those notes and telling that story so deeply. In terms of vocalists, I was not as keen on the male singer this time. He didn’t have the same depth, and for this piece, that’s necessary. The female singers were still perfect.

This has a lot of buzz from previous sold out audiences, but I think it’s a tough sell for Broadway which has definitely become more touristy. As I exited, I was taking in the reactions from people around me which varied from “what their bodies can do is beyond incredible” to “if all my friends were sitting around a campfire telling stories, and we each got 5 minutes, but one friend went on for 30, I’d be salty” to “I couldn’t understand half of what they were singing and I looked at the person next to me who closed their eyes, and I though, ‘I know, sir, we’re all bored.’” And those last two were from the younger audience members. I wish this production so much success because it really is a unique, beautiful addition to a season that needed a jolt!

P.S. Won the lottery for this, and the seat was terrible. Row O in the rear mezzanine against the wall. Thankfully there was nobody in the seat in from of me, but other than that, I’ve never had a worse seat experience (leg room and view since, although I didn’t have a person in front of me, the overhang of the mezzanine steps was in the way).

P.P.S. They should perform Man of Steel on the Tonys. It’s a stand-alone piece with a powerful message about our own inner strength as humans. Gorgeous.

Updated On: 4/27/24 at 04:23 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:35pm

I agree that this show won't appeal to tourists or even the older theatergoers. I, too, heard several people say as I exited the theater that said "I'm not sure what exactly happened" or "what was this about?". So maybe their limited run will be enough unless it ends up winning the Tony. Maybe they'll look to transfer this to a smaller theater in September and have it run for six more months?

[djoko84]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:37pm

dramamama611 said: ""wasted"? Have you already decided it's not worth it? While not perfect, Cabaret is still quite good.

I don't know if it can extend in its current home but if it it sells well, I think it could happen .. even if it has to again, relocate."

While I also don't think they'd be "wasted," I also wouldn't say it was "quite good" in the slightest. Actually, the total opposite. So you both used the wrong words. 

 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:40pm

ACL2006 said: "I agree that this show won't appeal to tourists or even the older theatergoers. I, too, heard several people say as I exited the theater that said "I'm not sure what exactly happened" or "what was this about?". So maybe their limited run will be enough unless it ends up winning the Tony. Maybe they'll look to transfer this to a smaller theater in September and have it run for six more months?"

The negative or mixed quotes that I mentioned came from the younger audience members. The older ones, from what I heard, appreciated it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:43pm

Wait, with those side seats, you missed the entirety of what happens up there during “The Seer’s Tower”???

I’d demand a refund.

Partial view is one thing but no view of something that beautiful and important to the story is unforgivable. 

Updated On: 4/27/24 at 04:43 PM

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 4:51pm

I’m not exactly sure what I just watched…. Maybe I don’t understand art. Who knows? But this so totally wasn’t my thing. I completely appreciate the talent of the dancers, vocalists, and musicians. It certainly was impressive how much choreography they learned and performed it non-stop. As for the “story” - were they even telling a story at first or just doing individual dance numbers? Once Henry’s story started it began to unfold and was easier to follow. I so badly wanted to like this and connect with this, but I really didn’t. I refrained from checking my watch the entire time and after each piece ended kept hoping it was the last one. I also don’t understand how this is being called a musical. It is quite literally a dance narrative. The whole thing sort of just confused me. I will say it seems the audience was really enjoying it though. I also understand how this would be enjoyable for people who love interpretive modern dance. Just wasn’t my cup of tea. 

Of note, I won the lottery for this. Was placed in the right orchestra row B seat 8. Off to the side but close. Not a terrible seat, not the best. No one was sitting in the aisle seat one row back in row c so I moved there which was a better seat. Overall I think this would have been more enjoyed further back and probably in the front mezzanine. I didn’t get the full effects of the whole dance numbers or lighting like I know I would have further back. I tried not to let affect my opinion of the show, but can’t help but think I may have a felt differently if I were in a different seat. Something to note they use spot lights in the back of the stage pointing toward the audience, angles house left and right, so had a giant light in my face during the numbers when the corn field was showing. Was pretty annoying, though thankfully wasn’t for the whole show

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 5:09pm

If you haven’t done so already, I recommend reading the journal that comes with the Playbill. I’ve read it about five times now and am so happy this is something they give out.

Having seen the show twice now, I feel like I fully understand it. And I feel that this is a musical in the same way my favorite show last year, “Standing at the Sky’s Edge” is. That’s a musical (a jukebox one) where the songs don’t serve to push the narrative of the plot but more-so set a tone and a feeling for the scene and characters. So much of the music in “Illinoise” does the same thing and also, I feel, serves as the dialogue (if you will) for the characters.  

I can’t even put into words how much I love this and again, as someone who isn’t a modern dance fan, that shocks the hell out of me. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 5:11pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Wait, with those side seats, you missed the entirety of what happens up there during “The Seer’s Tower”???

I’d demand a refund.

Partial view is one thing but no view of something that beautiful and important to the story is unforgivable."

I could see the bottom half of the dancers and kind of understood what was going on. I get why these seats are the rush seats.

[yyys]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 5:29pm

The mezzanine is definitely better than orchestra for this production.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 5:29pm

What a truly beautiful piece of theatre. I think I felt every emotion under the sun in the course of the 90 minute run time. After an overstuffed season with a lot of ho-hum shows, Illinoise a breath of fresh air.

Ricky Ubeda as Henry and Ben Cook are both doing tremendous work, and I hope both of them get the Tony nods they so deserve. The vocalists sing beautifully. The lighting design is exquisite - some of the best lighting I’ve seen on Broadway in a while. The simple set serves the story.

The story is compelling. The characters here are more fleshed out than a lot of characters in the new book musicals this season. This is a true testament to the power of the stunning choreography. The ninety runtime is perfect for this show. Just a really beautiful show in every sense of the word.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 5:38pm

yyys said: "The mezzanine is definitely better than orchestra for this production."

I'm thinking of buying a cheap mezz seat the next time I see it.

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 7:23pm

After about the third mention of Ricky Ubeda in this thread it finally hit me that he was the understudy I saw give an absolutely knock-out performance as Bernardo in Ivo's West Side Story.  I felt at the time that the shutdown totally robbed him of potentially becoming a major player. Subsequently, the youtube videos of him dancing in his Miami backyard during lockdown were just so sweet and  dazzling but also heartbreaking as I kept thinking what might have been had he been able to stay performing in New York. My excitement about seeing Illinoise in June has just about quadrupled. 

Updated On: 4/27/24 at 07:23 PM

[willep]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 11:23pm

Wow, skimming through this now and seeing what seats people got for rush/lotto, I am feeling incredibly lucky to have gotten second row dead center. Incredible seats, right in front of where they place their journals during their stories. Couldn’t have asked for better seats.

[RubyLee]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 9:22am

Piping in here to say I sat in the mezzanine, slightly house right, and the only person I couldn't see was the conductor. Great seats. Beautiful show. I loved it, but definitely was more invested once the story about Henry began. The singers' voices were enchanting and the orchestra sounded amazing. The sound engineer is getting an incredible mix in the house. I would aim for Mezz seats if you can. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 9:34am

ACL2006 said: "I agree that this show won't appeal to tourists or even the older theatergoers. I, too, heard several people say as I exited the theater that said "I'm not sure what exactly happened" or "what was this about?". So maybe their limited run will be enough unless it ends up winning the Tony. Maybe they'll look to transfer this to a smaller theater in September and have it run for six more months?"

I'm curious what is your age range for "older Theatergoers"?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 9:50am

Exactly. It won't work for anyone that expects a traditional musical. Or anyone that doesn't want to think. Or anyone to whom dance doesn't speak.  Age has nothing to do with it. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 9:51am

Huss417 said: "ACL2006 said: "I agree that this show won't appeal to tourists or even the older theatergoers. I, too, heard several people say as I exited the theater that said "I'm not sure what exactly happened" or "what was this about?". So maybe their limited run will be enough unless it ends up winning the Tony. Maybe they'll look to transfer this to a smaller theater in September and have it run for six more months?"

I'm curious what is your age range for "older Theatergoers"?"

Over 60. The two older women seated next to me didn't enjoy the show. The negative comments I heard when leaving the theater were by older people.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 9:57am

dramamama611 said: "Exactly. It won't work for anyone that expects a traditional musical. Or anyone that doesn't want to think. Or anyone to whom dance doesn't speak. Age has nothing to do with it."

I will disagree with you on one point. Like I said in my first post about this, modern dance does absolutely nothing for me but I was more taken with this show than anything else this season and immediately saw the show again. It actually gave me a new appreciation for what dance can do, as far as storytelling. 

[Huss417]

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

ACL2006 said: "Huss417 said: "ACL2006 said: "I agree that this show won't appeal to tourists or even the older theatergoers. I, too, heard several people say as I exited the theater that said "I'm not sure what exactly happened" or "what was this about?". So maybe their limited run will be enough unless it ends up winning the Tony. Maybe they'll look to transfer this to a smaller theater in September and have it run for six more months?"

I'm curious what is your age range for "older Theatergoers"?"

Over 60. The two older women seated next to me didn't enjoy the show. The negative comments I heard when leaving the theater were by older people."

Never a fan of generalizations. A group of my friends and myself went and the age is 50s-70s and all loved the show. And the majority of us thinks if the Tony Awards does the right thing this should be the Best Musical of the season.

Outside the theatre and again generalization it was the 20-30s around us that seemed not the enjoy it as much. I will never base a show if someone will like it based on age or where they are from.

Updated On: 4/28/24 at 10:28 AM

[Markie27]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 11:12am

I guess it really is more of individual tastes.  I am a big fan of dance.  I’ve always checked on what’s happening at Joyce Theater and at the City Center and BAM.  I knew nothing about Illinoise when I first bough the tickets early on at the Armory.  I’m not even a big fan of Justin Peck.  So I was critical about the show from the start.  At first I thought it was good. Not great.  Don’t get me wrong the choreography was excellent… but I’ve seen better.  I kept thinking…. Hmm Travis Wall might have made this better, or Mia Michales… group dancing Sonya Tayeh might have interpreted it better.  Or Christopher Wheeldon…. Great modern dance choreographers.  I didn’t even know Ricky Ubeda was there and I’ve religiously watched his SYTYCD season.  
 

Everything was fine and I have a smile on my face all thoughout  the show until the story of Henry started.  And I wasn’t prepared for that.   That hit me so hard.  Somehow every movement, facial expressions, connections, the music - they all made sense. I never experienced that particular coming of age story as a gay man but somehow it became personal. The lighting, the music, the voices, the movements all brought me such a cathartic experience that I’ve never felt anything this season.  Justin Peck’s impeccable direction elevated this dance musical into a work of art.  

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 1:07pm

Popped up on TDF today, and I snared seats for Saturday's matinee 5/4. Thrilled.

[bearhorn]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 1:54pm

Wow!  Such a great show.  Had my tickets set this weekend’s annual Spring theatre trip (Cabaret, Tommy, Hell’s Kitchen, and Merrily We Roll Along) for quite a while and was bummed I’d miss this late transfer.  But a surprise Thursday matinee made this one possible!

Fantastic in every way possible 

Updated On: 4/28/24 at 01:54 PM