IT’S A SCHMIGAHIT!
Adapting from his Apple TV+ series that satirized and saluted the glories of old timey musicals like Oklahoma! and Carousel, co-creator and writer Cinco Paul brings his stage version of Schmigadoon! to Kennedy Center. The fun angle here is that NY doctors Josh (Alex Brightman) and Melissa (Sara Chase) are hoping to rekindle their struggling relationship through a backpacking trip—only to cross over a bridge and stumble into the magical town of Schmigadoon, a place perpetually existing in a Golden Age musical, complete with singing townsfolk, grand production numbers, and classic Broadway-style romances. Through a mix of satire, heartfelt moments, and original songs paying homage to classic musicals, Schmigadoon celebrates the joy of musical theater while cleverly critiquing its tropes.
Sara Chase, McKenzie Kurtz, and Alex Brightman
Alex Brightman and Sara Chase
The songs—both from the series and new ones—aren’t Allen Sherman or “Weird Al”-styled complete parodies; instead, they just just hint like a pan on the head at their source: Some numbers have nods to dozens of other musicals, some send up the genre in general, and some are direct parodies of specific songs with altered music—one character explains human reproduction in medical detail in a spoof of “Do-Re-Mi” with “Va-Gi-Na.” The musical references will positively blow the heads off of hardcore theater fans, while they most assuredly will enhance the comedy for everyone. There’s even a traditional entr’acte that serves as a charming nod to classic musical theater conventions.
Isabelle McCalla and the Cast of Schmigadoon!
Emily Skinner and the Cast of Schmigadoon!
It’s surreal enough when Josh and Melissa encounter a mischievous leprechaun (yes, a leprechaun, as in Finian’s Rainbow), but soon they learn they are trapped in Schmigadoon until they find “true love.” (The title and concept clearly parody the 1947 musical Brigadoon.) As they interact with the town’s quirky residents—including the closeted Mayor Menlove (Brad Oscar), a charming carnival worker (Ryan Vasquez), a strict schoolmarm (Isabelle McCalla), and the henpecked Reverend Layton (Kevin Del Aguila)—Josh and Melissa are forced to confront their own relationship issues. While Schmigadoon may seem idyllic, it harbors deep-seated issues—judgmental attitudes, repression, and outdated social norms.
Alex Brightman and the Cast of Schmigadoon!
Ann Harada and Sara Chase
A Broadway favorite, Brightman brings his signature comedic timing and sharp delivery to Josh, making his skeptical outsider persona all the more enjoyable. Sara Chase provides a strong counterbalance as Melissa, infusing the role with warmth, humor, and impressive vocal chops. Together, they ground the production’s heightened world with awesome chemistry and truly whimsical beats. Throughout the show, Josh balks at every new song and refuses to sing—a running gag that builds to a satisfying emotional payoff. When he finally understands how much he loves and misses Melissa, he begins an a cappella, deeply heartfelt rendition of “You Make Me Wanna Sing”—and yes, he even dances!
Emily Skinner and Kevin Del Aguila
Emily Skinner is evilly great as Mildred Layton, the book-burning, change-fearing leader of the Mothers Against the Future. In “Tribulation,” a rousing number reminiscent of The Music Man’s “Trouble”—but with a reactionary twist—she whips the townspeople into a frenzy against progress and change. Both hilarious and unsettling, it’s refreshing to see a critiquing of the nostalgia-driven resistance to progress currently in progress in our own land.
Brad Oscar and Kevin Del Aguila
Alex Brightman and McKenzie Kurtz
As he did in The Producers, Brad Oscar is once again an expert at balancing camp and authenticity, especially in the touching duet “I Thought I Was the Only One” with Kevin Del Aguila’s Reverend Layton. One line by Mayor Menlove stood out as particularly meaningful: “There’s always the hope that we can be something better than we are,” suggesting that hope exists even in imperfect worlds, whether in Schmigadoon or the real world, reminding us that we can cherish the best parts of the past while striving for a better future.
Alex Brightman and Ayaan Diop
Eloise Kropp, Sara Chase, and Phillip Attmore
The production benefits from a visually striking scenic design by David Korins (Hamilton), who transforms the Eisenhower Theater into a vibrant, storybook-esque town complete with lush rolling hills and charmingly exaggerated façades. The lighting design by Brian MacDevitt enhances the show’s whimsical tone, shifting seamlessly between bright, Technicolor warmth and softer, more intimate moments. Costumes by Catherine Zuber embrace the bright, period-accurate aesthetic of the Golden Age musicals, perfectly capturing the town’s timeless feel.
Sara Chase, McKenzie Kurtz, Alex Brightman, and Company in "Corn Puddin"
Ryan Vasquez
Christopher Gattelli‘s choreography, a standout element of his direction, cleverly references classic Broadway dance sequences. Numbers like “Corn Puddin’” (a big, goofy group number that’s just thrown in there like “Shipoopi” or “A Real Nice Clambake”) burst with infectious energy, drawing inspiration from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Li’l Abner. A seamless transition from Josh and Melissa’s first meeting at a candy machine into a bed (a nod to Carousel’s dream ballet) showcases the ensemble’s precision and the fluidity of the staging.
Javier Muñoz and Angel Reda
With standout performances, lush design elements, and a deep love for the genre, this short run of Schmigadoon! —produced by Broadway Center Stage at the Kennedy Center—is a joyful, nostalgic, and thoroughly entertaining theatrical experience. Now, cross that bridge and get to this dreamy show—and don’t forget the Corn Puddin’.
The cast of Schmigadoon!
Other featured roles are Ann Harada reprising her role from the series as Florence Menlove, McKenzie Kurtz as Betsy McDonough, Isabelle McCalla as Emma Tate, Javier Muñoz as Doc Lopez, and Ryan Vasquez as Danny Bailey. The cast also includes Ayaan Diop as Carson Tate, Phillip Attmore as Freddy, Brandon Block as Buford Riggs, Holly Ann Butler as Helen Pritt, Max Clayton as Larry the Fireman, Kimberly Immanuel as Zaneeta, Eloise Kropp as Nancy, Jess LeProtto as Pete, Nathan Lucrezio as Farmer McDonough, Lauralyn Mcclelland as Ruth O’Reilly, Shina Ann Morris as Norma Nelson, Angel Reda as the Countess Gabrielle Von Blerkom, and Richard Riaz Yoder as Harvey the Innkeeper.
photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Sara Chase and Alex Brightman
Schmigadoon!
Broadway Center Stage at the Eisenhower Theater
2 hours and 45 minutes with one intermission
The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW in Washington, DC
ends on February 9, 2025
for tickets, visit Kennedy Center
for more shows, visit Theatre in DC
