Nederlander Theatre, New York, NY.
July 31, 2026.
I actually didn’t know what to anticipate when strolling into Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre to see Schmigadoon!, the comedy musical. I knew it had received the Tony Award for Finest Musical, I knew among the names connected to the manufacturing – each inventive workforce and producers. From what I had briefly seen and heard on clips, I had a sense it might be a feel-good present and will present some pleasure, which is at all times much-needed on this world. And I used to be proper. And the gang that evening was certainly there for it, too.
Initially a TV sequence created by Cinco Paul (who additionally wrote some beloved household motion pictures just like the Despicable Me movies and the lovable The Secret Lifetime of Pets), Schmigadoon! on Broadway was directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Dying Turns into Her), and produced by SNL’s Lorne Michaels.
The solid is charming – and excellent of their roles. Sara Chase and Alex Brightman are hilarious as Mel and Josh, a pair who begin within the honeymoon section however, after two years or so, find yourself in a {couples} retreat within the woods and come across Schmigadoon, a musical-come-to-life city which they’ll’t escape till they’ve discovered real love. Mel loves tune and dance; Josh thinks it’s utterly silly and is proof against all of it. It turns into hilarious watching his character react each time the characters of the magical city break into tune and dance about all the pieces, even corn pudding.
Schmigadoon! makes use of vibrant dance numbers with partnered strikes, excessive kicks, large leaps, partnered cartwheels, shimmies, skirt flutters and even faucet dancing, all an homage to the Golden Age musicals of the previous. The performers are unbelievable. Zachary Downer (Freddy) stood out together with his clean turns, Lyrica Woodruff (Nancy) showcased her balletic background, and Max Clayton (Danny Bailey) who immediately pursues Mel wowed the gang as a modern-day Fred Astaire. The ensemble/townspeople turn out to be part of the manufacturing as they turn out to be set movers, and Mel and Josh turn out to be absolutely entwined within the musical world they’ve ran into.
There are the “stereotypical” characters – a hunky Doc, a flirty farmgirl with an annoying chuckle, slightly boy who’s lovely and profound, a gay mayor who has not but come out to his spouse or city, and an uptight “villain” (performed by Ana Gasteyer, who at one factors steals the present as she breaks into the fast-paced, gospel-like “Tribulation”). There may be even a leprechaun. And a sex-education tune in regards to the reproductive system. It’s all so ridiculous that it’s hilarious. “It’s like if The Strolling Useless was additionally Glee,” Josh says in his bitter tone at one level. And the viewers is current your complete time, laughing at each joke, each humorous gesture.
As hilarious and foolish as Schmigadoon! is, it’s additionally heartwarming. Characters are real, individuals are true to themselves, and at last – due to the “actual” characters of Mel and Josh breaking into the loopy, musical world of the Schmigadoon city – individuals can break away from the fantasy world and understand they’re actual, too. It’s maybe probably the most stunning scene, when characters name out: “I’m a gay!” “I’m a veterinarian!” “I feel I’m a socialist!” After which – icing on the cake – Danny Bailey (who earlier died after falling on his personal knife…after all) comes down from a harness dressed as an angel.
Schmigadoon! has a contented ending, and that doesn’t actually look like a spoiler alert; we all know it will likely be coming into it. It feels good understanding that one thing will finish nicely. It feels good to chuckle, to smile. It feels good to observe performers wanting like they’re having a lot enjoyable on stage. We’d like that.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
