‘SCHMIGADOON!’: The cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

SCHMIGADOON!
Book, music & lyrics by Cinco Paul
Based on the Apple TV+ series “Schmigadoon!” co-created by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio
Directed & choreographed by Christopher Gattelli
Through January 3, 2027
Nederlander Theatre
208 West 41st St.
https://schmigadoonbroadway.com/

By Scott Harrah

No, this isn’t another revival of Brigadoon. Schmigadoon! affectionately goofs on the Golden Age of Broadway with a snarky, modern sense of humor.

Schmigadoon! is based on the 2021 Apple TV+ series co-created by Cinco Paul. The show draws inspiration from classic Broadway musicals, including Brigadoon. That original property later became a 1954 film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Gene Kelly.  It follows two New Yorkers who stumble upon a mystical Scottish village that appears once every 100 years.

However, don’t come to this must-see show expecting anything remotely like the original. Instead, Schmigadoon! delivers a colorful, feel-good send-up of Brigadoon and countless classic musicals of yesteryear. It’s consistently funny, and it ranks among the season’s best new musicals.

In this version, the stage adaptation resets the premise with a modern twist. It relocates the action to a fictional town somewhere in North America rather than Scotland. At the center is a New York couple with romantic problems. Josh (Alex Brightman) is a sarcastic doctor with commitment issues, while his girlfriend Melissa (Sara Chase) wants something more. Soon, they’re transported to a strange town where everything seems picture-perfect at first. However, appearances quickly prove deceptive.

Schmigadoon is a make-believe town that blends elements from many classic Broadway musicals. Here, characters burst into high-spirited, emotional production numbers in technicolor style. Before long, Josh and Melissa learn the rules: no one can leave this idyllic place until they find “true love.” Naturally, things get complicated. Both are tempted by beguiling locals. As a result, the town’s charm begins to expose the cracks in their relationship.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’ Ana Gasteyer (center) & cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

The townsfolk

The town’s filled with characters who serve as affectionate composites of vintage Broadway musical archetypes.

For example, Mildred Layton (Ana Gasteyer), the preacher’s wife, parodies Eulalie Shinn from The Music Man. She claims her great-great-grandfather founded the town. As a result, she sees herself as the ultimate arbiter of morality. She expects everyone to be as pious, righteous, and holier-than-thou as she is—or else.

Elsewhere, schoolteacher Emma Tate (Isabelle McCalla) is a dead ringer for Marian the librarian from The Music Man. Meanwhile, Danny Bailey (Max Clayton) is a charismatic yet destructive carnival barker modeled after Billy Bigelow in Carousel. Betsy (McKenzie Kurtz) is an innocent, guy-crazy farm girl who blends traits of Ado Annie from Oklahoma! with one of Farmer McDonough’s seven daughters in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Finally, Mayor Menlove (Brad Oscar) and his doting wife Florence (Ann Harada) appear to be the perfect couple. In reality, theirs is a “lavender” marriage.

Direction, design & score

Director and choreographer Christopher Gattelli keeps the action moving briskly, staging the musical numbers with energy and precision. Meanwhile, visually, the production embraces a vibrant, color-saturated aesthetic, with sets and costumes that gently poke fun at the originals. This reviewer hasn’t seen all the musicals Schmigadoon makes fun of, and I don’t think others need to either. The musical is funny enough on its own even for those who haven’t seen many of the golden oldies.

The score is where Schmigadoon! really shines. The full-company opening number, “Schmigadoon,” cleverly goofs on Oklahoma! and immediately sets the tone. “Corn Puddin’,” a hilarious send-up of Carousel’s clambake, is a comic highlight, while “With All of Your Heart” affectionately winks at “Do-Re-Mi” from The Sound of Music. In Act Two, Ana Gasteyer ignites the crowd with “Tribulation,” a showstopping number in which she revels in the town’s moral decay with sanctimonious glee while showcasing her powerhouse vocals. At times, the humor’s broad, but the show’s craft and sheer enthusiasm keep it consistently entertaining.

As in any parody, not every joke lands. Some of the humor plays it too safe and may click most with audiences familiar with the classic musicals being mocked. Still, the show delivers plenty of universal comic gems, including an “interfaith” bake sale featuring goods from Presbyterians and Methodists. Sight gags like this artfully highlight just how homogenized and delightfully “white bread” the town really is.

The players

Alex Brightman embraces Josh’s cynicism with sharp comic timing, grounding the show’s more absurd elements. Sara Chase provides a warm and appealing counterbalance, giving Melissa emotional clarity even as the world around her spirals into musical fantasy.

Ana Gasteyer, however, is the standout. As the show’s deliciously wicked villain, she delivers a campy, over-the-top performance that may remind some of Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians. She’s outrageously cruel and hilariously self-righteous, fully embracing the role’s heightened style. Her Act Two showstopper “Tribulation” elicits thunderous applause, blending trenchant satire with powerhouse vocals. It’s the kind of unforgettable performance that should put her firmly in the conversation this awards season.

The supporting cast is uniformly strong, fully committing to the show’s stylized world and musical pastiche.

Ultimately, Schmigadoon! delivers big laughs and sharp, skewering humor, emerging as a high-octane standout of the season’s new musicals.

Published April 25, 2026
Reviewed at press performance on April 22, 2026.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’ Sara Chase, McKenzie Kurtz, Brad Oscar, Alex Brightman & cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: The cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: Isabelle McCalla & cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: Sara Chase & Ann Harada. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: Sara Chase & Max Clayton. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: Brad Oscar & Maullik Pancholy. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: Alex Brightman & McKenzie Kurtz. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘SCHMIGADOON!’: Alex Brightman & Ayaan Diop. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

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