Illinoise

Illinoise is a 2023 dance revue musical with music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens and an original story by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury. The musical was inspired by Stevens' 2005 album Illinois. The musical follows some friends relating stories around a campfire about their childhoods and growing up in Illinois.

After a summer festival premiere, regional production and off-Broadway tryout, the show debuted on Broadway in April 2024 at the St. James Theatre; these productions have all been directed and choreographed by Peck. Reviews on Broadway were generally positive, and Illinoise was nominated for four Tony Awards, winning one for Peck's choreography.

Prologue and act I
A young man named Henry leaves his bed and partner in the middle of the night ("Prologue (or, A Conjuction of Drones...)") and hikes into the wilderness ("The Long Hike"). He comes across a group of friends sitting around a campfire in the forest telling stories about their childhoods and lives in Illinois. Henry is given a notebook matching the ones belonging to the other storytellers and is encouraged to "Write from the heart" ("Come on Feel the Illinoise!").

The storytelling begins: Morgan reminisces about growing up in Jackson, Illinois ("A Story About Jackson"). Jo Daviess has been having nightmares about historical figures' racism and the dangers of conservatism ("a story about Zombies"). Wayne is dealing with feelings of self-loathing about his sexuality, fearing that he is no better than Illinois serial killer John Wayne Gacy ("a story about John Wayne Gacy, Jr"). Wayne eventually breaks down in tears and is comforted by the other members of the group. To lighten the mood, Clark pretends that he is Superman ("a story about The Man of Metropolis").

Act II
At first, Henry resists telling his story, but emboldened by the willingness of his new friends to share their feelings of vulnerability, he relates that his childhood best friend and first love, Carl, previously had a lover named Shelby, and the three were close friends ("Decatur"). Henry's story comes alive. He and Carl embark on a road trip to New York, which ends abruptly when Carl receives news that Shelby is ill ("Chicago"). Carl returns to Decatur to be with her, but Henry meets and falls in love with Douglas, an artist ("To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament"). Shelby soon dies of cancer, with Carl at her side ("Casmir Pulaski Day").

Meanwhile, Henry is still together with Douglas, and while the two are very much in love, Henry is tormented by the idea that he has done something terrible by leaving Carl ("The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!"). Douglas is able to calm Henry, and the two fall back to sleep. Carl struggles with having lost the love of his life ("In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth") and, unable to confide in Henry, commits suicide ("The Seer's Tower"). Henry is devastated by the loss of Carl, and, returning to the present, Henry leaves Douglas in bed and finds these new friends ("A Conjunction of Drones, again").

Act III
Henry realizes that he cannot spend the rest of his life dwelling on the end of his friendship with Carl but must celebrate the good things about it as well ("Chicago" (reprise)). Henry's new friends celebrate his bravery for telling his story and accepting his emotions ("The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders"), and Henry is overjoyed when Douglas arrives at the campfire having hiked there to find him. The two embrace as the celebration of storytelling continues ("Epilogue").

Early productions (2023–2024)
The musical, originally titled Illinois, premiered at the Fisher Center at Bard College, running from June 23 until July 2, 2023, during the Bard SummerScape. Direction and choreography were by Justin Peck.

The show, now titled Illinoise, was next staged at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater from January 28 to February 18, 2024; Peck continued as director and choreographer. It opened in New York off-Broadway at the Park Avenue Armory on March 2, 2024, and closed on March 26, 2024, again with Peck at the helm. Orchestrations were by Timo Andres.

Broadway (2024)
The production transferred to the St. James Theatre on Broadway on April 24, 2024. It is scheduled to play a limited engagement through August 10, 2024. Peck directed and choreographed; set design is by Adam Rigg, with lighting by Brandon Stirling Baker and costumes by Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung. The production received four nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including Best Musical, winning one for Best Choreography for Peck.

Cast and characters
Characters are named after counties located in Illinois, and the vocalists are named after moth classifications, Barsine, Nacna and Arctiini, and costumed to represent moths.

Musical numbers

 * "Prologue (or, A Conjuction of Drones...)"

Act I
 * "Three Stars (or, Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois)"
 * "The Long Hike"
 * "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!"
 * "a story about Jacksonville"
 * "a story about Zombies"
 * "a story about John Wayne Gacy, Jr."
 * "a story about The Man of Metropolis"

Act II
 * "Decatur"
 * "Chicago"
 * "To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament"
 * "Casimir Pulaski Day"
 * "Prairie Fire That Wanders About"
 * "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!"
 * "In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth"
 * "The Seer's Tower"
 * "A Conjunction of Drones, again"

Act III
 * "Chicago" (reprise)
 * "The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders"
 * "Epilogue"

Critical reception
The Broadway production was praised by the reviewers of the Chicago Tribune, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and several others. A reviewer from TheWrap, however, thought that the production was "not only sentimental but downright whimsical" and "precious", and criticized the choreography as displaying "a limited dance vocabulary". The New York Times reviewers were split, with Jesse Green calling Illinoise "unforgettable" but Gia Kourlas stating that the show was "a place of overflowing emotion, but little dance spirit".