SCHMIGADOON! Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 12:00am

Well, yee honk!

A musical adaptation of Schmigadoon! arrives at the Nederlander Theatre tomorrow night (April 4), following its 2025 world premiere staging in Washington, D.C. The affectionate parody of Golden Age musicals is based on season 1 of the Apple TV+ series of the same name. Featured in the titular town “where the men are men and the cows are cows” are Alex Brightman, Sara Chase, Ana Gasteyer, Ann Harada, Ayaan Diop, Brad Oscar, Isabelle McCalla, Ivan Hernandez, Maulik Pancholy, Max Clayton, and McKenzie Kurtz. Schmigadoon! features an Emmy-winning score and book by Cinco Paul (along with some new material), and choreography and direction by Christopher Gattelli. Opening night is April 20 for a limited run through September 6.

“Welcome to Schmigadoon — the magical town where every day is a musical. Everybody has a song for everything, the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye, and the only bridge out of town leads nowhere. When one couple accidentally wanders in, they discover the only way to escape is by finding true love — which may or may not be with each other.”

Who wants corn puddin’?!

Updated On: 4/3/26 at 12:00 AM

[MyMotherIsGeorgeWashington]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 12:34am

Glad to see you back in your corner of the world. Try to keep the jokes out of this one, ok?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 1:03am

MyMotherIsGeorgeWashington said: "Glad to see you back in your corner of the world. Try to keep the jokes out of this one, ok?"

On it.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 1:34am

SHOVE IT IN.

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 10:40am

I heard they did a lottery for the dress rehearsal tonight. I did not win, but my friend did. 

Anyone here win?

[Observation]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 1:23pm

Can't say I'm excited for this show, I didn't watch the television show, BUT i am excited to see a big lavish production on Broadway with practical sets including hand painted backdrops. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 4:35pm

What’s the rush situation for the dress?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 4:48pm

The 14-piece SCHMIGADOON! orchestra is led by Steven Malone, who was also the associate music and vocal performance supervisor of the series.

Doug Besterman’s instrumentation is as follows:

• 2 Keyboards
• 3 Reeds
• 2 Trumpets
• Trombone
• Drums
• Percussion
• 2 Violins (Concertmaster, Doubling on Viola)
• Cello
• Bass

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 7:07pm

Observation said: "Can't say I'm excited for this show, I didn't watch the television show, BUT i am excited to see a big lavish production on Broadway with practical sets including hand painted backdrops."

Uh-oh!

[Observation]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 7:50pm

What's the uh-oh? Ana Gasteyer posted a video the other day of someone hand painting the backgdrops. 

 

BrodyFosse123 said: "Observation said: "Can't say I'm excited for this show, I didn't watch the television show, BUT i am excited to see a big lavish production on Broadway with practical sets including hand painted backdrops."

Uh-oh!

"

 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 4/3/26 at 11:29pm

I was at tonight’s invited dress. What a joyful, vibrant night of musical comedy. This is the perfect date night musical. 
 

McKenzie Kurtz is putting everyone on notice that she is going to be a force to be reckoned with in Broadway seasons to come, and it was really awesome getting to cheer on Max Clayton in his Broadway principal debut.

Nothing groundbreaking but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just a fun night out with a cast that’s giving it their all and that is delivering excellence.

Also, this is going to be a GREAT musical for high schools and community theaters to produce! 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 12:19am

SCHMIGADOON! merch

[malcs98]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 12:36am

BarnabyTucker said: "I was at tonight’s invited dress. What a joyful, vibrant night of musical comedy. This is the perfect date night musical.

McKenzie Kurtz is putting everyone on notice that she is going to be a force to be reckoned with inBroadway seasons to come, and it was really awesome getting to cheer on Max Clayton in his Broadway principal debut.

Nothing groundbreaking but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just a fun night out with a cast that’s giving it their all and that is delivering excellence.

Also, this is going to be a GREAT musical for high schools and community theaters to produce!"

Honestly, I was thinking the exact same thing, we don't get a lot of shows on Broadway that would be a great choice for high schools and community theaters, but Schmigadoon definitely fits into this category...definitely can't wait to see this one

[Ensemble1672852633]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 6:44am

was at the invited dress tonight…boy was this unfunny. The audience seemed to love it, although even the creators came out before curtain to thank the hundreds of die hard fans in the audience who made the show possible in the first place so take their reaction with a grain salt.

i watched a few episodes of the tv series and thought they joke played itself out very quickly and didn’t think episodic form was right for it, but I did think a full film or a two act stage musical might  actually work and be charming….not this production, however.

the joke still got old very quickly. 

Cheesy, cutesy, camp gets old very quickly and it’s the base of every number in this show. Gattelli’s  ideas (usually great) are repetitive, overdone, tropes and bits about small town behind the times folk that are ironically behind the comic times themselves. This needs a far more unique observation about this kind of life and a JOLT of subversive comedy alla trey Parker and Matt Stone.

The cast seemed out of gas and almost limping in parts. But the book writing and tagging didn’t help them at all. Everything was meta about classic musical tropes  which really stifles the journeys of the couple who gets stuck in schmigadoon because all they get to do is comment on how weird it is that people are Singing. And the fact that they don’t get to sing (him at all in the first act, her not until almost the end of act one) doesn’t help develop or solve their dilemma. Even a usually very funny Anna Gastyer well cast in a mean miss glutch type can’t make the lame lines funny… “you belong in a library. Because you have no spine” 🙄

Plus the set looks cheep and isn’t surprising or creative in the slightest.

I don’t get why this is on broadway at all. I understand if people liked the series, but if IP is all that matters these days to get a bway musical on in nyc I’m worried about art form all together. It’s giving Timothy chalamet was right vibes.

skip it unless you’re a fan.

 

[BwayMatty327]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 6:44am

Was one of the lucky winners there for the invited dress! Ran  smooth without a single tech stop. It’s a fun night out. If you liked the series, you’ll be happy and if you never saw it before, you’ll enjoy it just the same. 
 

This is one of the most beautiful shows that has been on Broadway in years. Sets, costumes, design, it’s all incredibly charming, like a spring cupcake. 

Cast is fantastic. Alex Brightman, Max Clayton, McKenzie Kurtz, the entire ensemble, everyone shines brightly in this. 

Missed one of the big numbers from the tv series. The baroness/ SOM bit don’t quite work. Not sure if it was a bit that worked better on screen or bc of Jane Krakowski, but just seemed rushed. 

Was in the rear Mezz and honestly any seat for this isn’t bad. 
 

All in all a well worthy night out. Something fun, light, and true escapism. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 12:26pm

I would love to know if they made any changes to the book between DC and NYC. I saw it at Kennedy Center (sadly because of the takeover by our rapist felon pedophile president, it may be my last time at the Kennedy Center for the foreseeable future). I enjoyed it but in the end wondered what the pojnt was. They didn't change anything. There was no reason for it to be on stage. Hopefully they did some work on the book but fear they haven't.

On a side note, I am thrilled they have promoted Max Clayton from chorus, which he was in during the run in Dc,  to lead.  I have been a fan of his for a long time and he desreves it.

Updated On: 4/4/26 at 12:26 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 8:41pm

An approximate 2:30 runtime is listed on the musical’s website, including an intermission. 

Updated On: 4/4/26 at 08:41 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 11:27pm

Oh man, this was a perfect evening of musical comedy and in this season, I can see this show taking home Best Musical. It’s pure joy from start to finish. Run time was around 2 hr 45 min altogether but it flew by. I have no clue if a show like this can find an audience and stay open for ten years but god, it deserves to. 

Updated On: 4/4/26 at 11:27 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 11:54pm

Can we just talk about Sara Chase’s recent career for a moment?

• Makes Broadway debut in 2013 shortly after getting divorced
• Takes part in downtown workshop of new Lloyd Webber musical, but does not transfer with it to Broadway
• Books recurring role on one of the most successful TV comedies of the 2010s
• Sets Broadway return after pandemic, but misses good chunk of contract once diagnosed with cancer; cancer-free after several rounds of chemo; returns to show having not lost a step
• Books first Broadway role as a leading lady and gets to take final solo bow

Updated On: 4/4/26 at 11:54 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/4/26 at 11:57pm

Remarkable, isn’t it? And she deserves all the flowers for this role, she’s SO f*cking good. 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 4/5/26 at 7:40am

Saturday night’s first preview was my first exposure to Schmigadoon!

I loved the musical arrangements. It reminded me of the golden years of musical writing, with sweet trumpet passages, zesty saxophone underscores, and a buoyant brightness that was lovely.

Thank you, Doug Besterman, for the orchestrations.

A theatergoer near me knew about the first night postcard giveaways tucked inside the Playbills. She had collected a full set before the short welcome talk by Cinco Paul and Christopher Gattelli.

One wee hiccup was a stubborn patriotic banner that shot out of its holder a few seconds late as Mildred Layton (the villainously funny Ana Gasteyer) announced her run for town mayor.

May the fantasy of Schmigadoon! enjoy a healthy run.

Updated On: 4/5/26 at 07:40 AM

[macbeth]

Posted: 4/5/26 at 8:34am

The cast alone makes this worth the trip to the theater. Not a single weak link in the bunch, which is increasingly rare. The standout for me was Max Clayton — my first time seeing him, and he absolutely commanded attention with a powerhouse solo early in Act 1. I sincerely hope awards voters take notice. Sara Chase was a delight, and it was great to have her back on a Broadway stage.

Alex Brightman is as talented as ever, but the material doesn't give him much to work with — his role simply isn't a great vehicle for someone of his abilities, which is a shame. Ana Gasteyer is reliably compelling, though I couldn't help but notice the parallels to her villainous matriarch turn in Once Upon a Mattress. I've been following McKenzie Kurtz since Wicked and have since caught her in The Heart of Rock and Roll and Heathers — she is, without question, perfectly cast as Betsy, and it's genuinely hard to imagine anyone doing the role better. That said, I'm starting to hope she gets the opportunity to stretch into something more unexpected, because the talent is clearly there for a wider range. McCalla was excellent, the kid actor was a genuine scene-stealer, and Brad Oscar delivered as reliably as he always does.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/5/26 at 11:07am

So happy for Max Clayton!!! I'll definitely add this show to my list to see this Spring.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/5/26 at 11:21am

He’s wonderful in this. But I’m thrilled that September Davis is back on Broadway before remounting “Proof: The Musical” in Canada. 

[CJRochester]

Posted: 4/6/26 at 11:18pm

Just got out of the second preview. This is probably the most perfect musical around right now. Other than a few mic glitches the show is in great shape. I enjoyed it on Apple TV a few years back, and was a bit skeptical it could work on Broadway. Watching it tonight made me realize this material is absolutely MEANT to be seen in a theatre, with an audience. 

The cast is overall fantastic. The standouts for me were Max Clayton as Danny Bailey, and Ana Gasteyer as Mildred Layton. Each could/should get some Best Featured awards recognition. PS: it was fun watching Josh Burrage recreate those Newsies flips I first saw him do ten years ago.  

Updated On: 4/7/26 at 11:18 PM