Illinoise
A New Musical
Broadway Promotional Poster
Music	Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics	Sufjan Stevens
Book	Justin Peck Jackie Sibblies Drury
Basis	Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Premiere	June 23, 2023: Fisher Center
Productions	2023 Bard College 2024 Chicago 2024 Off-Broadway 2024 Broadway

Illinoise is a 2023 dance revue^[1] 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; a newcomer to the group, Henry, finally shares how being gay affected his early relationships and friendships.

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.^[2] Reviews on Broadway were positive,^[3] and the musical received four nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including Best Musical.^[4]

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.^[5][6]

The show was next staged at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater from January 28 to February 18, 2024, Peck continued as director and choreographer.^[7]

Illinoise opened in New York off-Broadway at the Park Avenue Armory on March 2, 2024, and closed on March 26, 2024, with Peck at the helm. Orchestrations were by Timo Andres.^[8]

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.^[9][10]

Characters are named after counties located in Illinois,^[13] and the vocalists are named after moth classifications, Barsine, Nacna and Arctiini, and costumed to represent moths.^[14]

• "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 (or, Riffs and Variations...and Out of Egypt...)"

• Official website
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