Justin Peck’s dance musical “Illinoise” has won the best choreography award at the 2024 Tony Awards. The musical was inspired by Steven’s 2005 album “Illinois” with music and lyrics by Sufjan himself. Although Sufjan could not pick any award for his work this time. Peck had also co-wrote the musical with Jackie Sibblies Drury.
The storyline of the musical is based on some friends sharing stories about their childhood until Henry, a newcomer opens up about how being gay affected his early relationships and friendships.
Other potential nominations for this year’s Tony Awards included “Here Lies Love” by Annie-B Parson, “Hell’s Kitchen” by Camille A. Brown, “The Outsiders” by Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, and “Water for Elephants” by Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll.
“Illinoise”: Nominations and the journey to Broadway
“Illinoise” was nominated for several other awards at the Tony’s as well which it failed to pick up. It was nominated for ‘Best Musical’ which went to “The Outsiders”. ‘Best Lighting Design of a Musical’ went to Jonathan Tunick for “Merrily We Roll Along” and Hana S. Kim for “The Outsiders”, although “Illinoise” had received a nomination. Actors from Illinoise took to the stage to perform their own rendition of the musical’s ‘The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!’ during the award ceremony.
Originally titled “Illinois”, the musical was premiered at Fisher Center at Bard College last year. It was next staged at Chicago Shakespeare Theater from January 28 to February 18, 2024. Both of the premiers were directed and choreographed by Peck.
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After an opening at New York off Broadway it got transferred to the St. James Theatre on Broadway on April 24, 2024. If we go by the laurels who have worked on this musical, “Illinoise” was destined to flourish.
Tony Awards 2024: Some other nominations that won besides “Illinoise”
Put together by former Arcade Fire member Will Butler and written by David Adjmi, “Stereophonic” received as many as 13 nominations, a record breaking number. However it ended up taking only one for ‘Best Play’. Semi autobiographical jukebox musical “Hell’s Kitchen”, telling Alicia Key’s story based on her Manhattan life also received 13 nominations and picked two. Based on Kristoffer Diaz’s book, the musical uses a lot of Keys’ original music.
With music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, based on a book co-written by Pete and Des McAnuff, rock musical ‘The Who’s Tommy” lost out the ‘Best Revival of a Musical’ award to “Merrily We Roll Along”. The cast of the musical performed an acoustic rendition of the hit ‘Pinball Wizard’ with Pete Townshend on the guitar.
Get the full list of winners here.
