Illinoise on Broadway — Dance Dance Revelation

Illinoise promo poster. Photo from Instagram @illinoiseonstage

I've always been a big fan of Broadway, but I'll be honest—I wasn't sure what to expect from Illinoise, a new Broadway musical inspired by Sufjan Stevens' album Illinois. I love the original album, but when I heard the stage adaptation was more interpretive dance and less of your traditional musical, I thought, "Will this be my thing?" Turns out, it absolutely was.

The Beauty of Illinoise

What I witnessed at the Wednesday matinee was nothing short of stunning. Picture this: no spoken lines, no songs from the actors, just beautiful dance from Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck (who won his second Tony for Illinoise). It felt like the best episode of So You Think You Can Dance with every number from whimsical to haunting weaving into the next to tell a story.

The story is not overly complicated; however, it does take a little effort from the audience to follow. Your Playbill should have a special insert with the main character's diary that you should read before the show to get a little primer. Then, the set design and props provide cues to guide you through some wild scenes that include zombies, superman, and even the infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy. I think some of the negative reviews come from those who weren't expecting the dance-heavy format and gave up trying to understand what was going on. But if you let yourself get swept up in the visual storytelling, you will be rewarded.

I was lucky enough to snag a front-row seat, almost center. Being that close, you can't always take in the whole stage at once, but you get an incredible view of the dancers' nuanced facial expressions and the emotion they bring to their performances. I caught a few understudies at this matinee, which is pretty common, but now I want to go back and see the leads. Hopefully, I can make that happen before it closes on August 10th.

Verdict: Go

Address: St. James Theatre, 246 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Website: https://illinoiseonstage.com/