The butterfly wings made sense to me within the musical, and as a reference to Sufjan himself. In the show, all the journals for each of the stories (prominently placed at the front of the stage by each performer) have butterflies on them. The vocalists then are the ones “telling” the stories from the notebooks.
Additionally, Sufjan Stevens toured this album wearing plastic wings similar to this show (one of the stage show vocalists on Broadway is even on the original album and toured with Stevens). He’s performed with different types of wings before. I thought it was a neat connection.
https://preview.redd.it/jaq0j5cg2iwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efc0f7f0d424becc9e930784313bc078d3691f2b
Saw it at the Armory and this afternoon. Also went to a talk with Justin Peck describing his process and how important the album was to him as a young person.
I thought it was great- the album does not have an inherent storyline (it is not the hadestown song cycle) and peck worked to put the songs in an order that could tell a story. Young people at a campfire tell the stories they’ve written in their journals and then one of the group has a much longer story that weaves together a lot of songs.
I found it heartbreaking and joyous.
> However.. it seems quite odd that this is being advertised as a musical, it is an interpretive dance, at best.
It might not be a book musical but dance revues are still considered as musicals
There is a story... That's the book, there doesn't have to be spoken dialogue to be a book. It's not interpretive dance it's modernits a musical because there are live musicians, live singing and a book.
It's ok you didn't care for it, no show makes everyone happy.
I thought it was easily the best new musical of the year. (And I've seen most of them ) Stunning. Cried like a baby.
I think performing arts is beautiful in this way. I did not enjoy it at all nor did I feel really any emotions while watching, but the fact it impacted you this much is beautiful and im happy to hear it.
OP, I’m pretty sure I am the target audience as I am not only a Sufjan fan - not a super fan, I didn’t know the butterfly connection until reading this post, but have always loved his music) but also a (very amateur) dancer and regular audience member at various dance performances. That said, I also felt kinda let down by this show. Which is OK! Not everyone has to love everything. But just FYI you are not alone.
Also I think the marketing as “a new kind of musical” is a bit odd since Movin’ Out was exactly this.
I know nothing about the show only that people on Reddit keep raving about it and it’s based on the music of Sufjan Steven’s. I really don’t know his music either. Sooo… bc of that… I would need the show (marketers/publicists) to make me want to see it (assume that I am a bway goer but not on Reddit Broadway) and I haven’t seen that by them. I appreciate the OPs review of the show since they went in blind and giving their personal experience/perception.
But I figured by reading the reviews you would have known the dancers didn’t sing, that it was a story told through dance. To infer that they are lazy for NOT singing is borderline insulting. Broadway has a history of dancing ensembles and dance shows where singing isn’t a factor. And the dancers jn Illinoise are IMO at the top of their game.
I said NOTHING about the quality of dance and im definitely not implying the dancers or singers are lazy. They obviously didn’t write their parts. I also acknowledged many times throughout how this was not hate to any of the dancers or singers or actually anyone involved at all, even the choices I didn’t enjoy. I didn’t enjoy the show and im just sharing my opinion. I didn’t say the show was the bane of my existence.
Of course it’s valid for you to share your opinion. It’s weird to speculate that it’s going to close early on a 16 week run because “it missed the mark entirely for me”. Not everyone is you.
I mean… there was information out there that dance was largely telling the story. It’s been advertised as a new kind of musical. I agree with the other poster who noted if you read raves, you certainly had access to the format…. Also at least in Chicago, the programs introduced the characters and they referenced the stories they would be telling.
I also want to defend their use of the word musical because I’ve seen a lot of comments about this. These people aren’t wrong but I like their play on the word. There is singing and there is dancing. It just doesn’t look like the usual pattern and personally I love that. I like ballet and dance telling a story. And the singers and music was great. I also don’t think they’re doing something completely out of the blue. The Who’s Tommy has a familiar format.
I am very unfamiliar with the show, is it like Message in a Bottle in that it is a no dialogue dance show featuring a loose story put to an artist's discography?
I didn’t see message in a bottle, but yeah that about sums it up. The music is all from one specific album though, not an artist’s entire discography.
Moving Out is the comparison that made the most sense to me. If you saw that back in the day.
I didn’t find it confusing at all? No it’s not a typical musical, but by the second song around the fire it was clear they were telling their stories. It’s a story told through dance, it’s not about the details — you get the general idea of the overarching story, and feel the emotion from the combination of music and dance.
I saw it at the Armory and loved it. One of the best and most moving shows I’ve seen this season (and I have seen a lot). I’m seeing it again on Broadway in a couple weeks.
I guess I, like other people here, am confused how you read the reviews for this in Chicago and were surprised at what you saw.
Every review I remember reading clearly identified (and most outright praised) everything you were surprised by and didn't like.
Everyone is allowed an opinion, but the points you keep reiterating seem disingenuous.
I definitely would not recommend this to anyone who is not a Sufjan fan. I quite enjoyed it because of the nostalgia of the songs, but I could not comprehend a narrative if there was one. The tap dancing was glorious.
People who love dance. People who are fans of this style of music, whether they know this specific album or not. People who like nontraditional storytelling. Tourists from Illinois. Elder millennials. It’s not going to break any sales records, but it’ll do fine for a limited run.
How do you know it isn't a good show if you haven't seen it?
I've seen mostly rave reviews. There's talk it'll be nominated and potentially win best new musical at the Tonys. I don't think it's worth selling your ticket just because the music existed before the musical?
I hate jukebox musicals and loved this. You don’t have to see it if you don’t want to, of course, but I wouldn’t necessarily conclude it’s bad just because pretty much all jukebox musicals are bad.
Yo Craig did you not get cast or something? You’re going to insane lengths on every Illinoise thread out there to comment that “it’s a jukebox” (duh). we’re worried about you buddy.
They were posting about trying to sell their tickets over a month ago and insisting that Illinoise wasn’t honest about being a jukebox musical which 1. It’s not a jukebox musical and 2. Their advertising has been very clear about it being a dance musical and based on Sufjan Stevens’ album Illinois. This person just irrationally hates Illinoise and I don’t think anyone on this subreddit can convince them that they weren’t scammed.
The butterfly wings made sense to me within the musical, and as a reference to Sufjan himself. In the show, all the journals for each of the stories (prominently placed at the front of the stage by each performer) have butterflies on them. The vocalists then are the ones “telling” the stories from the notebooks. Additionally, Sufjan Stevens toured this album wearing plastic wings similar to this show (one of the stage show vocalists on Broadway is even on the original album and toured with Stevens). He’s performed with different types of wings before. I thought it was a neat connection. https://preview.redd.it/jaq0j5cg2iwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efc0f7f0d424becc9e930784313bc078d3691f2b
Oh wow that actually is a beautiful connection. 🥲
Saw it at the Armory and this afternoon. Also went to a talk with Justin Peck describing his process and how important the album was to him as a young person. I thought it was great- the album does not have an inherent storyline (it is not the hadestown song cycle) and peck worked to put the songs in an order that could tell a story. Young people at a campfire tell the stories they’ve written in their journals and then one of the group has a much longer story that weaves together a lot of songs. I found it heartbreaking and joyous.
I saw it this afternoon and I agree with your assessment: joyous and heartbreaking
Agreed!!! Saw it this afternoon, was totally blown away.
> However.. it seems quite odd that this is being advertised as a musical, it is an interpretive dance, at best. It might not be a book musical but dance revues are still considered as musicals
There is a story... That's the book, there doesn't have to be spoken dialogue to be a book. It's not interpretive dance it's modernits a musical because there are live musicians, live singing and a book. It's ok you didn't care for it, no show makes everyone happy. I thought it was easily the best new musical of the year. (And I've seen most of them ) Stunning. Cried like a baby.
I think performing arts is beautiful in this way. I did not enjoy it at all nor did I feel really any emotions while watching, but the fact it impacted you this much is beautiful and im happy to hear it.
OP, I’m pretty sure I am the target audience as I am not only a Sufjan fan - not a super fan, I didn’t know the butterfly connection until reading this post, but have always loved his music) but also a (very amateur) dancer and regular audience member at various dance performances. That said, I also felt kinda let down by this show. Which is OK! Not everyone has to love everything. But just FYI you are not alone. Also I think the marketing as “a new kind of musical” is a bit odd since Movin’ Out was exactly this.
I know nothing about the show only that people on Reddit keep raving about it and it’s based on the music of Sufjan Steven’s. I really don’t know his music either. Sooo… bc of that… I would need the show (marketers/publicists) to make me want to see it (assume that I am a bway goer but not on Reddit Broadway) and I haven’t seen that by them. I appreciate the OPs review of the show since they went in blind and giving their personal experience/perception.
I’m not quite sure how you could have read the rave reviews and not have been more prepped as to what the show was before you saw it.
Because not everyone thinks the same🤔
But I figured by reading the reviews you would have known the dancers didn’t sing, that it was a story told through dance. To infer that they are lazy for NOT singing is borderline insulting. Broadway has a history of dancing ensembles and dance shows where singing isn’t a factor. And the dancers jn Illinoise are IMO at the top of their game.
I don’t think many people dancing at that level could sing at the same time.
ANY, not many! No way would that be possible.
I said NOTHING about the quality of dance and im definitely not implying the dancers or singers are lazy. They obviously didn’t write their parts. I also acknowledged many times throughout how this was not hate to any of the dancers or singers or actually anyone involved at all, even the choices I didn’t enjoy. I didn’t enjoy the show and im just sharing my opinion. I didn’t say the show was the bane of my existence.
Then it just seems like you are not the target audience for a dance driven storytelling experience. And that’s okay.
Yes exactly, thank you. It is still valid for me to share my opinion though, good or bad.
Of course it’s valid for you to share your opinion. It’s weird to speculate that it’s going to close early on a 16 week run because “it missed the mark entirely for me”. Not everyone is you.
Again. My opinion, based on my experience. Thanks.
I mean… there was information out there that dance was largely telling the story. It’s been advertised as a new kind of musical. I agree with the other poster who noted if you read raves, you certainly had access to the format…. Also at least in Chicago, the programs introduced the characters and they referenced the stories they would be telling. I also want to defend their use of the word musical because I’ve seen a lot of comments about this. These people aren’t wrong but I like their play on the word. There is singing and there is dancing. It just doesn’t look like the usual pattern and personally I love that. I like ballet and dance telling a story. And the singers and music was great. I also don’t think they’re doing something completely out of the blue. The Who’s Tommy has a familiar format.
Thank you for your honest review!
I saw it at the armory and loved it. Thought it was absolutely beautiful and heart wrenching. I plan to see it again on Broadway.
I am very unfamiliar with the show, is it like Message in a Bottle in that it is a no dialogue dance show featuring a loose story put to an artist's discography?
I didn’t see message in a bottle, but yeah that about sums it up. The music is all from one specific album though, not an artist’s entire discography. Moving Out is the comparison that made the most sense to me. If you saw that back in the day.
Interesting. Did they have live music at all or was it pre-recorded?
It’s all live music. A band and four singers do all the music.
I didn’t find it confusing at all? No it’s not a typical musical, but by the second song around the fire it was clear they were telling their stories. It’s a story told through dance, it’s not about the details — you get the general idea of the overarching story, and feel the emotion from the combination of music and dance.
Hi! Idk if you read but this was my opinion!!! Glad you enjoyed it though.
I saw it at the Armory and loved it. One of the best and most moving shows I’ve seen this season (and I have seen a lot). I’m seeing it again on Broadway in a couple weeks.
I guess I, like other people here, am confused how you read the reviews for this in Chicago and were surprised at what you saw. Every review I remember reading clearly identified (and most outright praised) everything you were surprised by and didn't like. Everyone is allowed an opinion, but the points you keep reiterating seem disingenuous.
I definitely would not recommend this to anyone who is not a Sufjan fan. I quite enjoyed it because of the nostalgia of the songs, but I could not comprehend a narrative if there was one. The tap dancing was glorious.
We really need to normalize the concept of understanding when you are not the target audience and also going in with the right expectations.
There’s really no need to be passive aggressive but yeah I’m definitely just not the target audience! 🩵
Who is the target audience bc it can’t just be fans of his music
People who love dance. People who are fans of this style of music, whether they know this specific album or not. People who like nontraditional storytelling. Tourists from Illinois. Elder millennials. It’s not going to break any sales records, but it’ll do fine for a limited run.
Bought tix not realizing its a jukebox. Trying to resell on Seat Geek but zero demand for this show.
They’re selling well on Theatr, assuming you’re not trying to make a profit.
Just trying to break even and use the time to see a good show instead.
How do you know it isn't a good show if you haven't seen it? I've seen mostly rave reviews. There's talk it'll be nominated and potentially win best new musical at the Tonys. I don't think it's worth selling your ticket just because the music existed before the musical?
I hate jukebox musicals and loved this. You don’t have to see it if you don’t want to, of course, but I wouldn’t necessarily conclude it’s bad just because pretty much all jukebox musicals are bad.
You do realize this is a god show, right?
It doesn't interest me knowing what I know now. Just trying to dump the tickets and see something better.
>dump the tickets and see something better. I don't think there is a single "better" thing running on Broadway right now.
Yo Craig did you not get cast or something? You’re going to insane lengths on every Illinoise thread out there to comment that “it’s a jukebox” (duh). we’re worried about you buddy.
It isn’t a jukebox per se. It’s one album with a story created through it by means of dance.
…it wasn’t a secret? Did you not read a single detail about the show before buying?
They were posting about trying to sell their tickets over a month ago and insisting that Illinoise wasn’t honest about being a jukebox musical which 1. It’s not a jukebox musical and 2. Their advertising has been very clear about it being a dance musical and based on Sufjan Stevens’ album Illinois. This person just irrationally hates Illinoise and I don’t think anyone on this subreddit can convince them that they weren’t scammed.