**** Highly Recommended   Since I knew absolutely nothing about Sufjan Stevens or his 2005 concept album Illinois, I didn’t know what to expect when I went to see Illinoise at Chicago Shakespeare.  Judging by all the cheers from the audience, everyone else was in on the secret.  Stevens’ music portrays Illinois – the people, the history, the geography – while throwing in zombies, killer wasps and UFOs.  The company tells these stories completely in exquisite dance routines.  I am in awe!  4 BIG Spotlights

The Yard stage has two main levels for Illinoise – with the orchestra on the upper level, the dancers mainly on the lower, and three vocalists, all wearing gauzy wings, on platforms jutting out from the upper level.  By the way, the vocalists also played instruments – Elijah Lyons (Keyboard, Shara Nova (Electric Guitar) and Tasha Viets-VanLear (Electric Guitar / Acoustic Guitar / Percussion). 

Kudos to Adam Rigg for his Scenic Design.  If anyone (like me) had difficulty figuring out where the story was at any given time, billboards kept us up to speed!

The story was a lyrical interpretation of Stevens’ songs, opening with a song called Three Stars (or, Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois).  Although the performance is continuous, it is divided into three ‘acts’ loosely following Stevens’ geographic trail through the state.

In Act I, the dancers gather around a campfire; break apart as a single dancer interprets songs like a story about Jacksonville, a story about Zombies, a story about John Wayne Gacy Jr. or a story about The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts; then gather again. Act II is a little more about geography, with songs called Decatur, Chicago, To the workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Ida Concerning Your Predicament, and Casimir Pulaski Day, but also introducing The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!  Act III includes a reprise of Chicago, The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders and the Epilogue (or, Riffs and Variations…and Out of Egypt …).

The dancers and their characters are: Kara Chan (Star / Player), Ben Cook (Carl / Player), Jeanette Delgado (Jo Davies / Player / Dance Captain), Gaby Diaz (Shelby / Player), Robbie Fairchild (Clark / Player), Christine Flores (Anākwas / Player), Rachel Lockhart (Morgan / Player), Craig Salsten (I-94 Eastbound / Player / Dance Captain), Ahmad Simmons (Douglas / Player), Byron Tittle (Estrella / Tap Dancer / Player), Ricky Ubeda (Henry), and Alejandro Vargas (Wayne / Player).  All of the dancers have extensive training at various professional ballet or dance companies around the country.

Although the dancers are mostly dancing together in groups, occasionally they are solo.  They do represent characters which have specific descriptions.  According to the program, Wayne (Vargas) is a poet and murder balladeer who shares a story about John Wayne Gacy. Morgan (Lockhart) is a griot and expert debater whose story is about DNA and ancestry.  Jo Davies (Delgado) is a historian and horror enthusiast who is worried about zombies.  Clark (Fairchild) is a dreamer and amateur comic book illustrator who is into Superman.  Henry (Ubeda) shares a tragic and true story about young loves: Carl (Cook), Henry’s childhood best friend and first love; Shelby (Diaz), Henry’s other childhood best friend and Carl’s first love; and Douglas (Simmons), Henry’s first adult love he doesn’t think he deserves.

The Illinoise orchestra includes Nathan Koci (Conductor / Keyboards / Banjo / Vocals), Sean Peter Forte (Associate Music Director / Piano / Accordion / Vocals), Domenica Fossati (Flute / Percussion / Vocals), Daniel Freedman (Drums / Vocals), Dan Galat (Violin / Viola / Percussion / Vocals), Kathy Halvorson Oboe / Percussion / Percussion), Eleonore Oppenheim (Acoustic Bass / Electric Bass / Vocals), Brett Parnell (Electric Guitar / Acoustic Guitar / Banjo / Percussion / Vocals), Christopher Scanlon (Trumpet / Vocals), Kyra Sims (Horn / Vocals) and Jessica Tsang (Vibraphone / Percussion / Vocals.

The music and lyrics of Illinoise were written by Sufjan Stevens, with new music arrangements and orchestrations by Timo Andres.  Story is by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibbllies Drury.  This production is directed and choreographed by Justin Peck.

“Illinoise” will continue thru Feb 18, 2024 with performances as follows: