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Friday, March 10, 2023
Sufjan Stevens ‘Illinois’ Stage Musical Sets Summer World Premiere
Deadline: A stage adaptation of Sufjan Stevens’ acclaimed 2005 album Illinois will make its world premiere this summer in a production by The Fisher Center at Bard where Daniel Fish’s eye-opening Tony-winning revival of Oklahoma! got its start.
2 comments:
John Alexander Farrell
said...
The announcement of a stage musical adaptation of Sufjan Stevens' album "Illinois" is a testament to the power of artistic innovation and collaboration. The project, which brings together the talents of Stevens, Tony-winning choreographer Justin Peck, and acclaimed director Daniel Fish, promises to be a bold and imaginative interpretation of the beloved album.
The innovative nature of this project lies not only in its source material but also in its approach to storytelling and performance. Rather than relying on traditional narrative structures, the musical will explore themes and ideas through movement, music, and visuals, creating a unique and immersive experience for audiences.
In a time when the arts are facing unprecedented challenges, projects like the "Illinois" stage musical remind us of the power of creativity and collaboration to inspire and uplift us. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Sufjan Stevens' music and the limitless possibilities of artistic innovation.
I’m not going to lie - I am very nervous about this musical. I am from Chicago and thus I feel obliged to love Illinois and Sufjan Stevens. There are so many ways this musical could go wrong and I am concerned by the statement that there will be new arrangements for this musical. I am confused as to if that means there will be new songs or if the original songs will be rearranged. If there will be new songs that could jeopardize the integrity of the album and if the songs are changed it would alter the songs themselves. Chicago is perfect how it is and if it was changed I imagine there would be uproar. Just because there are many famous people working on this show does not mean it will be good, but I hope and pray it will live up to the beauty of the album and ideally bring it to more people's attention.
2 comments:
The announcement of a stage musical adaptation of Sufjan Stevens' album "Illinois" is a testament to the power of artistic innovation and collaboration. The project, which brings together the talents of Stevens, Tony-winning choreographer Justin Peck, and acclaimed director Daniel Fish, promises to be a bold and imaginative interpretation of the beloved album.
The innovative nature of this project lies not only in its source material but also in its approach to storytelling and performance. Rather than relying on traditional narrative structures, the musical will explore themes and ideas through movement, music, and visuals, creating a unique and immersive experience for audiences.
In a time when the arts are facing unprecedented challenges, projects like the "Illinois" stage musical remind us of the power of creativity and collaboration to inspire and uplift us. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Sufjan Stevens' music and the limitless possibilities of artistic innovation.
I’m not going to lie - I am very nervous about this musical. I am from Chicago and thus I feel obliged to love Illinois and Sufjan Stevens. There are so many ways this musical could go wrong and I am concerned by the statement that there will be new arrangements for this musical. I am confused as to if that means there will be new songs or if the original songs will be rearranged. If there will be new songs that could jeopardize the integrity of the album and if the songs are changed it would alter the songs themselves. Chicago is perfect how it is and if it was changed I imagine there would be uproar. Just because there are many famous people working on this show does not mean it will be good, but I hope and pray it will live up to the beauty of the album and ideally bring it to more people's attention.
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