I saw Schmigadoon! on Broadway last night, and it was an absolutely delightful evening from beginning to end. Bright, funny, romantic, and bursting with theatrical energy, the production feels like both a loving celebration of classic musicals and a wonderfully clever comedy in its own right. It captures everything that makes musical theater so joyful – the sweeping emotions, infectious songs, exuberant dancing, colorful characters, and unmistakable sense that anything can happen once the orchestra begins to play.
Alex Brightman and Sara Chase were amazing. Brightman brought impeccable comic timing to Josh, finding humor in every bewildered reaction while also giving the character genuine warmth and humanity. He made the skepticism funny without ever allowing the performance to become distant or cynical. Beneath all the jokes, there was a real emotional journey, and Brightman handled that balance beautifully.
Sara Chase was equally outstanding as Melissa. She was vibrant, enormously funny, and completely engaging whenever she was onstage. Her performance had intelligence, heart, and terrific musical-theater flair. She could deliver a punchline with perfect precision and then shift effortlessly into a moment of sincerity. Together, Chase and Brightman had wonderful chemistry. Their relationship gave the show its emotional center and ensured that, beneath all the parody and theatrical extravagance, there was a story worth caring about.
Ana Gasteyer was absolutely stellar. She commanded the stage as Mildred Layton with razor-sharp comic authority, a powerful presence, and total commitment to every gloriously over-the-top moment. Her performance was a master class in how to play a larger-than-life character without losing specificity. Every expression, gesture, and vocal inflection landed.
Her performance of “Tribulation” was phenomenal – a genuine showstopper and one of the great highlights of the evening. Gasteyer delivered it with extraordinary vocal power, escalating comic intensity, and complete command of the stage. It was hilarious, thrilling, and technically superb – the kind of number that makes you want to start applauding before it has even finished. She managed to be formidable, ridiculous, and completely mesmerizing all at once.
The entire ensemble deserves tremendous praise as well. The company filled the stage with infectious energy and made the town of Schmigadoon feel wonderfully alive. The choreography was exuberant and sharply executed, while the production’s visual world was colorful, imaginative, and full of affectionate references to Broadway’s Golden Age. There was always something entertaining to watch, but the staging never overwhelmed the story or the performers.
What impressed me most was the show’s balance of parody and genuine affection. Schmigadoon! understands the conventions of classic musicals well enough to poke fun at them, but it never treats the genre with contempt. The humor comes from love. It celebrates the wonderful absurdity of people bursting into song while also reminding us why musical theater can express emotion in a way that ordinary conversation cannot.
This was one of the most purely enjoyable nights I have had at the theater. The cast was uniformly excellent, the comedy was consistently sharp, and the music and dancing created an atmosphere of complete theatrical joy. Alex Brightman and Sara Chase were fantastic, Ana Gasteyer was unforgettable, and “Tribulation” alone was worth the price of admission.
I left the theater smiling, energized, and wishing I could cross the bridge right back into Schmigadoon. A joyful, hilarious, beautifully performed Broadway experience that I enthusiastically recommend.
Brian Brijbag 