Schmigadoon: Broadway's Cheesy, Joyful Musical Ride

0:00On April 21st, Broadway just dropped Shmigadun, a stage version of that Apple TV musical series, and it's a straight up love letter to old school. Shows like Brigadun and Oklahoma. The story follows Dr. Josh Emelissa, played by Alex Brightman and Sarah Chase, who gets stuck in a magical town where folks burst into song and dance non-stop. Alevra Khan says they got to find true love to break out, but these two are fighting after Iraqi couples retreat. Director and choreographer Christopher Gatelli keeps it super faithful to the show's first season, with four new songs and some tweaked lines for the stage. Quickset changes flip from hospital to bedroom like magic, thanks to designer Scott Pasch. It's all winking parody of Golden Age musicals, pulling from carousel and the music man, without missing a beat. Audiences are eating it up, laughing and cheering from the jump, especially when the town sign pops up. The cast of 23 nails every roll, from ensemble townsfolk, to standouts like Mackenzie Kurtz,

1:03as the bubbly farmer's daughter, and Anna Gasdair, dropping sharp one-liners as the preacher's wife. Brightman and Chase got that real couple chemistry, even when they're clashing. Super fans get fresh twists, while newbies like me vibe with the familiar tropes. The whole crew seems to genuinely crack each other up on stage, keeping energy high without any big slip-ups. Acting director Bernard Telsi assembled a killer group that makes every character pop. Clocking in at 2 hours and 30 minutes, it flies by so smooth, you almost wish that bridge stayed busted a bit longer. This cheesy, joyful ride earns top marks and has folks leaving the Netterlander Theatre hooked for more. Stay in the know with entertainment and celebrity news today, AI-powered updates.