Illinoise
January 28
February 18, 2024
The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare
music & lyrics by Sufjan Stevens
(based on the album Illinois)
story by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury
directed & choreographed by Justin Peck
“Justin Peck can do anything he wants with choreography: a virtuoso of the form.”
–The New York Times
“Sufjan Stevens is the rarest of talents: prolific, intelligent, and brimming with heart-wrenching melodies. Illinois is his masterpiece.”
–NME.com
Pulitzer Prize Winner Jackie Sibblies Drury’s work is “breathless and radiant”
–The New York Times
The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare is home to a new kind of musical based on Grammy and Oscar-nominated Sufjan Stevens’ acclaimed concept album. Known for its lush orchestrations and wildly inventive portrayal of the state’s people, landscapes, and history, a team of brilliantly imaginative artists unite to transform the album into a full-length theatrical performance, with a story by Tony Award winner Justin Peck (New York City Ballet, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview). Featuring a cast of virtuosic dancers, singers, and a live band, Illinoise will lead audiences on a journey through the American heartland.
Clockwise from bottom, original company members: Jonathan Fahoury, Matthew Johnson, Jennifer Florentino, Byron Tittle. Photo by Matt Murphy.
The Players
Creative Team
Sufjan Stevens Music & Lyrics
Justin Peck Story, Director & Choreographer
Jackie Sibblies Drury Story
Nathan Koci Music Direction & Music Supervision
Timo Andres Music Arrangements & Orchestrations
Adam Rigg Scenic Design
Brandon Stirling Baker Lighting Design
Garth MacAleavey Sound Design
Reid Bartelme & Harriet Jung Costume Design
Andrew Diaz Props Design
Julian Crouch Masks
Adriana Pierce Associate Director & Choreographer
Sean Forte Associate Music Direction
Rick Steiger Production Stage Manager
Brian Freeland Production Manager
Nate Koch Executive Producer
NVK / Jenna Ready + Joanna Pisano General Management
ArKtype / Thomas O. Kriegsmann Booking Agent
Company
Kara Chan Cast
Ben Cook Cast
Jeanette Delgado Cast
Gaby Diaz Cast
Robbie Fairchild Cast
Christine Flores Cast
Jada German Cast
Zachary Gonder Cast
Rachel Lockhart Cast
Dario Natarelli Cast
Tyrone Reese Cast
Craig Salstein Cast
Ahmad Simmons Cast
Byron Tittle Cast
Ricky Ubeda Cast
Alejandro Vargas Cast
Shara Nova Vocalist
Tasha Viets-VanLear Vocalist
Christina Courtin Instrumentalist
Sean Forte Instrumentalist
Domenica Fossati Instrumentalist
Daniel Freedman Instrumentalist
Kathy Halvorson Instrumentalist
Nathan Koci Instrumentalist
Eleonore Oppenheim Instrumentalist
Brett Parnell Instrumentalist
Brandon Ridenour Instrumentalist
Kyra Sims Instrumentalist
Jessica Tsang Instrumentalist