"Schmigadoon!" Premieres at The Kennedy Center

On Friday, January 31, weekend crowds began pouring into the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre, eager to experience the world premiere of Schmigadoon! a brand-new musical based on the Emmy Award winning television show.

Schmigadoon! follows the journey of two New York City doctors, Josh and Melissa portrayed by Alex Brightman and Sara Chase, who go on a trip in an attempt to save their failing relationship. Instead of a peaceful weekend, the couple gets lost along the way ending up in a magical town called Schmigadoon. The couple will not be able to escape this musical town until they are able to find “true love.”

The Apple TV original series had two seasons, poking fun at golden age musicals while also paying homage to these works. The first season of Schmigadoon! is what the musical adaptation at the Kennedy Center was based on.

The show only ran for eleven performances over the course of the end of January and the beginning of February as a part of the Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage program.

The aim of The Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage is to feature Broadway talent in the nation’s capital. This is a program that has been bringing Broadway talent to Washington’s audiences for years. Among the many stars cast in Schmigadoon! was four-time Broadway star Nathan Lucrezio.

Lucrezio has held roles in Tommy, Diana the Musical, Aladdin, and Cinderella on Broadway. This was Lucrezio’s second time being a cast member of a production at The Kennedy Center, his debut being Guys and Dolls in 2022. Lucrezio held a role as Farmer McDonough, a member of the magical town of Schmigadoon.

While reflecting on the opening of Schmigadoon! Lucrezio said “There’s not a lot of shows like this experience, it is not making fun of golden age musical theatre, it is actually a love letter to musical theatre.”

Audience member Peyton McDonell agreed with Lucrezio’s statement saying, “I’m a fan of golden age musicals...so seeing the show was like a good parody because it was clear that the writers had a lot of love for the old musicals.”

The show, which drew in concepts from some of the most well-known golden age Broadway musicals including Oklahoma, Carousel, and The Sound of Music aimed to bring joy to new audiences, as well as those who are fans of the TV show.

“I hope people walk away with a newfound respect and admiration for what has paved the way for musical theatre.” Lucrezio said, reflecting on how Oklahoma, and Carousel inspired some aspects of Schmigadoon! “There’s a song that McKenzie Gertz sings that is kind of similar to ‘I Can’t Say No’ from Oklahoma. There’s a big soliloquy from Carousel that Tammy Bailey sings, so there’s just a lot of specific referencing.” Said Lucrezio.

Schmigadoon! was created based on the 1954 musical Brigadoon which follows the unfolding events of two Americans who become lost in Scottland. The couple find a small village in the woods where people are trapped two hundred years in the past.

Brigadoon is an example of a golden age musical that Schmigadoon was imitating with the style of music, dress, and choreography. In a time of uncertainty in Washington, especially within the Kennedy center, there are certainly moments that light shines through, and for Lucrezio, Schmigadoon was all about bringing joy to the audience, and allowing that creative light to shine through center stage.

Lucrezio said, “I hope you walk away with joy in your heart, that is the main focus from all of us.”