May 8
'Schmigadoon!' Lives On – This Time on Stage
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Is "Schmigadoon!" headed to Broadway? The Emmy-winning Apple TV series (which was canceled after two seasons) is getting new life in a stage presentation, Playbill reported.
"Featuring a book, music, and lyrics by series creator Cinco Paul, the work will get a world premiere staging at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center in 2025, with performances running January 31-February 9 in the Eisenhower Theater. Christopher Gattelli, who choreographed both seasons of the series, will direct and choreograph the stage musical," Playbill said.
A release about the show explains the musical's plot will follow that of the show's first season, in which a couple Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) are transported to Schmigadoon, a fictional town populated by character-types and themes from Golden Age musicals, such as "Oklahoma!," "The Music Man," and "Carousel." The press notes added that Paul's songs from the series include the Emmy-winning "Corn Puddin,'" plus new tunes. The production is being presented by special arrangement with Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video, which produced the series.
The show's second season took a darker turn as it focused on post-Golden Age musicals of the 1960s and 1970s.
A third season was written before Apple TV canceled the series in January. In a tweet at the time of the cancellation, show creator Cinco Paul wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in which he lamented the show's cancellation, but concluded with: "This was tough news to get, but the optimist in me is convinced it's not the end of 'Schmigadoon'... and maybe it's even a happy beginning."
He also told Entertainment Weekly that the third season was written with 25 new songs and a focus on the mega-musicals of the 1980s ("Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miz").
With the announcement of the Kennedy Center date, Paul isn't so much finishing what he started with the series, but rethinking his initial concept in a different medium.
"The premiere is part of Kennedy Center's newly announced 2024-2025 Broadway Center Stage season, which will also include a new staging of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,' playing the Eisenhower Theater October 11-20; and 'Legally Blonde The Musical,' to be directed by Matt DiCarlo and running June 6-15, 2025, also in the Eisenhower," added Playbill.
Casting of the Kennedy Center engagement has yet to be announced or any thoughts of moving the show to Broadway or on tour.
The first two seasons of "Schmigadoon!" stream on AppleTV. Follow this link for more information.
Watch the trailers for "Schmigadoon!" seasons 1 and 2.
