But its safe to say this quirky gem is something unique.
Its not exactly a musical either.
Also of note: This interview took place a week afterthe untimely deathofIllinoiseproduction stage manager Thomas J.
‘Illinoise’ on Broadway; Justin Peck at May 7 gala performanceMatthew Murphy/ Michaelah Reynolds
Gates, who was struck and killed by a train, leaving the Broadway company devastated but determined.
This interview was condensed and edited for length and clarity.
Illinoiseis playing at Broadways St. James Theatre
DEADLINE:First let me offer sincere condolences.
Ricky Ubeda, Ahmad Simmons and the company of ‘Illinoise’Matthew Murphy
I know this must be a rough time for you with the passing of Tom Gates.
It was a shock.
JUSTIN PECK:Thank you.
Were taking it one day at a time right now.
PECK:He was just the kindest man.
He always brought this sense of kindness with him.
Its just a changing, evolving thing and its such an ephemeral experience.
Its been heartbreaking and also kind of beautiful to get to witness.
The character of Henrys boyfriend Douglas (Ahmad Simmons) put me in mind of Evans Richardson.
I wonder, are those kind of things purposeful?
Are you trying to draw parallels with real life?
PECK:Those traces in terms of how they associate with Sufjan specifically are not purposeful.
I wanted to give myself the parameter of, like okay, only draw from his music.
Part of our goal was to maintain the experience of the album in its entirety for audiences.
But theres definitely an awareness of all that.
Sometimes it would be one lyric that could act as a tent pole to build out a whole scene.
That meant potentially ignoring other aspects and other lyrics of certain songs.
If you look at like a song like Illinois, its so dense.
Theres so much in the lyrics and references and places and history.
There must have been those sort of practical considerations as well.
The aesthetic of that song feels almost like the filmStand By Me.
Its actually something I didnt realize until very late in the process.
Tell me how you came to that.
The fear is not something that disappears but its something that can be lived with.
It just becomes too much for him.
So it kind of helps guide the audience into the language and the expression of this show.
One of my questions was always Are people going to get this?
Did he have any involvement in the development ofIllinoise?
Did he ever say, no thats not what I would do or thats not how I would act?
PECK:He was very deliberate about choosing tonotinsert himself in the process of it.
He was available when we were first developing it, strictly from a music standpoint.
He just had a really hard year.
It was a bit of a relief for me at that point.
DEADLINE:Can I ask you to give us any updates on his health, and his spirits?
And his health is on the mend.
Hes back to walking and he just wants to be physical again.
He kept saying I just want to be able to run again, and I know hell get there.
Were all here for him and sending him energy.
DEADLINE:Im very glad to hear that.
What was his reaction and yours and everyones reaction to the Tony nominations?
Could you have imagined when you started all this that you would be up for Tony Awards?
PECK:I guess we never fully knew where this show was going to end up.
We didnt know it would even make it to Broadway.
Im a theater lover and theater is really how I got into all of what I do…
DEADLINE:…and a Tony winner I should mention…
PECK:Yeah.
Were telling these stories with very bare design support, you know.
We have a picnic blanket that becomes a Superman cape.
We have some lanterns that come together and if you squint it kind of looks like a campfire.
The ones that allow for the audience to use their imaginations, and that trust the audience.
Im really honored and hopeful for what those nominations signify.
DEADLINE:Where doesIllinoisego from here?
Do you foresee future productions?
I just have a feeling that the audiences there would really enjoy it.
Were just trying to stay focused on our current Broadway run.
It was a bullet train to get it here.
