Experience the Magic of Schmigadoon! Where Life is a Musical

Apr 22, 2026 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

Life can be complicated, especially for a young couple struggling with their relationship. Josh Skinner (Alex Brightman) and Melissa Gimble (Sara Chase), two NYC doctors caught up in a stagnant relationship, attend a couples retreat in the Poconos. They wander off bickering, lost in the woods, and accidentally wander into Schmigadoon, a magical town frozen in time where every day is a musical, where people spontaneously break into song and dance. Schmigadoon! is a comedy trapped inside a musical extravaganza, with book and score by Cinco Paul, directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, scenic design from Scott Pask, and costumes from Linda Cho. Fantasy never felt so real.

Josh and Melissa quickly learn that the only way to escape Schmigadoon is by finding true love.

Though new to Broadway, Schmigadoon! was conceived by Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels and is based on Season One of the Apple TV+ original series by the same name. Those familiar with the TV series will enjoy the familiarity of the story. For others, like us, who never say the show, this fanciful journey to Schmigadoon! is captivating. The magic begins when Josh and Melissa step across a simple stone bridge and find themselves in the small town of Schmigadoon, a vibrant, technicolor dreamscape where life is a 1940s/50s musical (reminiscent of Brigadoon, The Music Man, and Oklahoma!). In Schmigadoon, the weather is perpetually sunny, and everything is meticulously maintained, with brightly colored houses. The townsfolk wear pristine period costumes (puffy dresses, waistcoats, and hats) and are always smiling and joyful.

The acting is over-the-top wonderful, with amazing performances by all. This fast-moving, delightfully delicious musical comedy will keep you on the edge of your seat, smiling and laughing as the fantasy unfolds, with a delightful, happily-for-now conclusion.

The Plot in a Nutshell

Josh and Melissa, both NYC doctors, meet in front of a hospital vending machine and fall in love. As their relationship progresses, they fall into a comfortable routine. Melissa becomes frustrated when their friends are getting married, but their relationship is not progressing. They, like all couples, have their differences. Melissa loves musicals, like Singing in the Rain, while Josh doesn’t even like singing.

Finding themselves in Schmigadoon, a living musical, is polarizing. Josh is uncomfortable and anxious to leave, while Melissa is intrigued by the idyllic setting, where everyone has a song or a dance. The pair decides to split up. Watching their attempts to find ‘true love’ among the townsfolk is hilarious.

The townsfolk of Schmigadoon are caricatures, as colorful as their surroundings. There is a rigid mayor (Brad Oscar) who dresses in lavender, and his supportive wife (Ann Harada), a hunky carnival worker (McKenzie Kurtz) who was a womanizer until he falls for Melissa. There is a young, hillbillyish farmer’s daughter who sets her sights on Josh, and a prim schoolmistress raising her brother. This small town with a high moral character has a soft-spoken, hen-pecked Reverend (Max Clayton), and his overbearing wife (Ana Gasteyer), and of course, the small town doctor (Maulik Pancholy).

This extraordinarily talented, star-studded cast is supported by amazing dancers, whose coordination, athleticism, and energy levels carried the show to even higher heights.

 

A Musical with a Lesson

The smiles and bright colors of Schmigadoon mask underlying issues, and the overwhelming need to be accepted. The reverend’s wife uses the desire to fit in to weaponize religion. She misquotes the bible to define who is “in” and who is “out,” maintaining conformity and preventing the town from changing. She rejects the outsiders for upsetting the status quo and is quick to assign labels, attempts to banish Melissa, who breaks the rules for women (of the time), and challenges established stereotypes.

Melissa recognizes that finding true love requires work and compromise, because life is messy, and trying to force it to be perfect only makes you miserable. She understands that rather than blaming Josh for the flaws in their relationship, she needs to hold herself accountable and accept him for who he is, cynicism and all. Josh takes the first step by singing and sharing his vulnerabilities, but she must meet him halfway.

Schmigadoon! playfully satirizes mid-century musicals while exploring modern relationships and our need for acceptance. The bridge is a metaphor, as well as a physical barrier, holding Schmigadoon in the past, forcing a reconning, moving beyond the perfect world of the musicals to the messy, complicated world of reality.

Schmigadoon! is a breath of sunshine, a feel-good musical-comedy that left us smiling.

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Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed.

Schmigadoon! at the Nederlander Theatre through September 6, and received 5 challahs

Running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes (with one 15-minute intermission)