Ever wonder what a Broadway musical would be like as a television series? Well Schmigadoon is your answer as it is a visual feast, a singing marvel and dripping with sarcasm.
Melissa Gimble (Cicily Strong) and Josh Skinner (Keegan-Michael Key) are a couple who after a few years of dating have hit a roadblock. They decide to take a lovers retreat to help rekindle the romance and passion, but take a wrong turn while hiking and end up in the small town of Schmigadoon. There is a catch, Melissa and Josh cannot leave Schmigadoon until they find true love, either with themselves or with someone else.
Schmigadoon is a quaint small town where people wear brightly colored clothes and break into song at any given moment. The inhabitants of Schimigadoon are just adorable, Mayor Menlove (Alan Cumming), Florence Menlove (Ann Harada), School Teacher Emma Tate (Ariana DeBose), Doc Lopez (Jamie Camil), Waitress Betsy (Dove Cameron), Reverend Layton (Fred Armisen), Mildred Layton (Kristin Chenoweth), The Countess (Jane Krakowski), Danny Bailey (Aaron Tveit) and Town Leprechaun (Martin Short).
Schmigadoon! is a tongue in cheek take on a musical. Two surly individuals are caught in an imaginary world where people break into song at any given moment. There are large orchestral numbers that indicate the cast are about to break into song or if they are going to have a solo and both Melissa and Josh, after prompting, gladly partake in the fun.
This series has an absolutely amazing cast for anyone who is a lover of Broadway.
Created by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul, Schmigadoon! is an interesting take on what can only be described as cross between a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical with Stephen Sondheim lyrics. Think Carousel, Oklahoma and In To the Woods and you’ll understand the concept of Schmigadoon!.
Cicily Strong as Melissa Gimble is quirky, cute and can carry a tune.
Keegan-Michael Key as Josh Skinner can stand his ground opposite Cicily but also goes head to head with the likes of Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth and Jane Krawkowski and proves he has the vocal range to maintain a song against these Broadway legends.
But we have to talk about the cast. Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Krawkowski, Anna Harada, Martin Short and Ariana DeBose (of Prom fame) all in a television series, all singing, all dancing and all in period outfits that are colorful and remind you of something that should be on stage. They are just joyous to watch and very funny at the way of poking fun at the musical genre.
After what can only be described as a very trying and tough year. It is great to see a series that is just a lot of fun. You can’t help but enjoy the singing and dancing but also laugh at self deprecating humor as everyone randomly breaks into song at any given moment.
The series just makes you enjoy and miss the spectacle that is a Broadway musical and appreciate the creativity that goes into making a production.
Schmigadoon! is a toe tapping series with episodes released weekly on AppleTV.
