The Sufjan Stevens dance musical Illinoise began performances and opened on Broadway April 24. But the production waited until post Tony nominations to party and celebrate. The production held a special gala performance May 7 with a number of celebrities in attendance, such as Rachel Zegler, Mike Faist, and Julianne Hough.
And they had much to celebrate. The musical is up for four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and Best Lighting Design.
Illinoise is inspired by Stevens' album Illinois and features direction and choreography by Justin Peck (Carousel, West Side Story). The musical's story is by Peck and Pulitzer winner Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview). The production is set around a campfire as dancers, singers, and a live band lead audiences on an epic journey set to Stevens' music, arranged by Timo Andres. Read the reviews here.
Purchase the opening night Playbill for Illinoise at the Playbill Store.
See photos from the gala performance red carpet, curtain call, and after party in the gallery below.
Zack Gonder
Yesenia Ayala
Tyrone Reese
Timo Andres
The Illinoise costume design team
The Illinoise band
The company of Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda
Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler
Rachel Lockhart
Patrick Catullo
Maria Friedman
Kathryn Gallagher
Kara Chan
Justin Peck
Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado
Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough
JJ Caruncho and Arielle Jacobs
Jeanette Delgado
Jada German
Jackie Sibbles Drury
Shara Nova, Elijah Lyons, and Tasha Viets Van Lear
Garth McAleavey and Lara Quinones
Gaby Diaz and Ben Cook
Dario Natarelli
Craig Salstein
Cory Michael Smith
Christine Flores
Carlos Falu
Byron Tittles
Brandt Martinez
Becca Stevens
Alejandro Vargas
Ahmad Simmons
The company of Illinoise
Ryan Steele and Gaby Diaz
Rachel Zegler and Ricky Ubeda
Rachel Lockhart and Tyrone Reese
Nasia Thomas and Tia Harewood Millington
Mike Faist and Justin Peck
Justin Peck and Jackie Sibbles Drury
Julianne Hough, Tyler Lain, and guest
Ben Cook and guests
Gaby Diaz, Nico Greentham, Ricky Ubeda, Rachel Zegler, Carlos Gonzales, and Tyler Lain
DJ K Styles
Christine Flores
Byron Tittle, Ben Cook, and Gaby Diaz
Byron Tittle and Ricky Ubeda
Adrienne Carterna Martinez and Brandt Martinez
Gaby Diaz, Carlos Gonzales, Rachel Lockhart, and Ahmad Simmons
Ben Cook, Ricky Ubeda, Tasha Viets-VanLear, and Gaby Diaz
The company of Illinoise
The company of Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda
Ricky Ubeda and the company of Illinoise
Timo Andres
Justin Peck
Justin Peck and the company of Illinoise
Justin Peck and the company of Illinoise
Justin Peck and the company of Illinoise
Justin Peck and Jackie Sibbles Drury
Justin Peck
Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, and Tasha Viets-VanLear
Tasha Viets-VanLear, Alejandro Vargas, and Christine Flores
Shara Nova, Garth MacAleavey, Timo Andres, Ben Cook, and Brandt Martinez
Elijah Lyons, Rachel Lockhart, Jeanette Delgado, and Craig Salstein
The dance ensemble for the Broadway bow features much of the performers from the show's earlier runs Off-Broadway and at Chicago Shakespeare Theater's The Yard. The company includes Yesenia Ayala (West Side Story), Kara Chan (Twyla Tharp Dance), Ben Cook (West Side Story), Gaby Diaz (So You Think You Can Dance?), Jeanette Delgado (West Side Story), Carlos Falu (West Side Story), Christine Flores (Dance Heginbotham), Jada German (Twyla Tharp Dance), Zach Gonder (Pam Tanowitz Dance), Rachel Lockhart (Jacob's Pillow), Brandt Martinez (Aladdin), Dario Natarelli (Maestro), Tyrone Reese, Craig Salstein (West Side Story), Ahmad Simmons (Fosse/Verdon), Byron Tittle (Dorrance Dance), Ricky Ubeda (So You Think You Can Dance?), and Alejandro Vargas. They are joined by Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Manny Houston, and Tanner Porter.
The work was co-commissioned by Fisher Center at Bard (where the piece made its world premiere in 2023), Park Avenue Armory, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Southbank Centre, TO Live, and Perelman Performing Arts Center. The show's Chicago run finished February 18.
The creative team includes music director and supervisor Nathan Koci, music arranger and orchestrator Andres, scenic designer Adam Rigg, lighting designer Brandon Stirling Baker, sound designer Garth MacAleavey, costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung, prop designer Andrew Diaz, and mask designer Julian Crouch. Thomas Gates is production stage manager.
Orin Wolf, John Styles, and David Binder are producing, in association with Seaview and Executive Producer Nate Koch.
Visit IllinoiseOnStage.com.
Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, and Tasha Viets-VanLear in Illinoise
Bryon Tittle, Christina Flores, Kara Chan, Ricky Ubeda, Tasha Viets-VanLear, and Shara Nova in Illinoise
Company of Illinoise
Company of Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda, Ben Cook, Gaby Diaz, Tasha Viets-VanLear, and Shara Nova in Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda, Ben Cook, Tasha Viets-VanLear, and Shara Nova in Illinoise
Ben Cook and company of Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda and company of Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda and company of Illinoise
Company of Illinoise
