Illinoise Cancels May 8 Performance Following a ‘Tragedy Within the Community’

The Sufjan Stevens dance musical Illinoise will not go on as planned May 8 due to "a tragedy within the community of Illinoise,” per an email sent to ticket holders.

The dance musical, which plays Broadway's St. James Theatre, announced via email that the 7 PM evening performance was cancelled, but that performances will resume as scheduled tomorrow. Ticket holders have been directed to contact their point of purchase for next steps.

The work is inspired by Stevens' album Illinois and features direction and choreography by Justin Peck (Carousel, West Side Story). The musical's story is by Peck and Pulitzer winner Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview). The production is set around a campfire as dancers, singers, and a live band lead audiences on an epic journey set to Stevens' music, arranged by Timo Andres.

The dance ensemble for the Broadway bow features much of the performers from the show's earlier runs Off-Broadway and at Chicago Shakespeare Theater's The Yard. The company includes Yesenia Ayala (West Side Story), Kara Chan (Twyla Tharp Dance), Ben Cook (West Side Story), Gaby Diaz (So You Think You Can Dance?), Jeanette Delgado (West Side Story), Carlos Falu (West Side Story), Christine Flores (Dance Heginbotham), Jada German (Twyla Tharp Dance), Zach Gonder (Pam Tanowitz Dance), Rachel Lockhart (Jacob's Pillow), Brandt Martinez (Aladdin), Dario Natarelli (Maestro), Tyrone Reese, Craig Salstein (West Side Story), Ahmad Simmons (Fosse/Verdon), Byron Tittle (Dorrance Dance), Ricky Ubeda (So You Think You Can Dance?), and Alejandro Vargas. They are joined by Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Manny Houston, and Tanner Porter.

The work was co-commissioned by Fisher Center at Bard (where the piece made its world premiere in 2023), Park Avenue Armory, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Southbank Centre, TO Live, and Perelman Performing Arts Center. The show's Chicago run finished February 18.

The creative team includes music director and supervisor Nathan Koci, music arranger and orchestrator Andres, scenic designer Adam Rigg, lighting designer Brandon Stirling Baker, sound designer Garth MacAleavey, costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung, prop designer Andrew Diaz, and mask designer Julian Crouch.

Orin Wolf, John Styles, and David Binder are producing, in association with Seaview and Executive Producer Nate Koch.

Visit IllinoiseOnStage.com.