Broadway is set to welcome Illinoise, the show inspired by Grammy and Academy Award nominee Sufjan Stevens’ acclaimed concept album Illinois from 2005, beginning April 24. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Justin Peck, it features an original story by Peck and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury. Here’s what you need to know about the latest new musical to come to the St. James Theatre stage.

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

Illinoise is the brainchild of a creative Dream Team: a who’s-who of experimental yet accessible artists.

Peck is best known as the Resident Choreographer of the New York City Ballet, but he is no stranger to musical theater. He choreographed the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021), Bradley Cooper’s Maestro (2022) and Buena Vista Social Club (2023). In a recent podcast interview, he shared that it was the tap musical Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk that made him want to be a dancer. Theater was his first love; ballet came later.

Peck is no stranger to Stevens, either, whom he has admired since he was a teenager and collaborated with on seven projects over twelve years. The idea for Illinoise grew from Peck’s deep personal attachment to Stevens’ album, which he admits he’s been listening to on repeat for eighteen years.

Stevens is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his soft (in texture, not volume) voice, genre-spanning style (electronica, folk, folktronica, baroque pop, indie rock), and piercing lyrics (he earned an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School). While the music and lyrics for Illinoise are straight from his album, the show features new arrangements by composer, pianist and Peck’s frequent collaborator Timo Andres for an 11-member band and three vocalists.

Drury, another creator known for pushing boundaries, is an author and playwright best known for her humorous and poignant plays Social Creatures (2013), Fairview (2018) and Marys Seacole (2019).

As for the cast, Peck picked performers he’d either........

© Observer