If/Then

Last updated
If/Then
If-Then Logo.png
Original Logo
Music Tom Kitt
Lyrics Brian Yorkey
Book Brian Yorkey
Setting New York City
PremiereMarch 30, 2014 (2014-03-30): Richard Rodgers Theatre
Productions2013 Washington, D.C.
2014 Broadway
2015 US Tour
2022 South Korea

If/Then is a musical with a libretto by Brian Yorkey and a theatrical score by Tom Kitt, directed by Michael Greif. It tells the story of a 38-year-old woman named Elizabeth who moves back to New York City for a fresh start. [1]

Contents

If/Then began previews on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 5, 2014, opened on March 30, 2014, and closed on March 22, 2015, a total of 401 performances and 29 previews. The cast recording was released by Masterworks Broadway on June 3, 2014, [2] and debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200, the highest-charting Broadway cast recording since the cast recording of The Book of Mormon was released in 2011. [3]

If/Then started its national tour in Denver, Colorado, on October 13, 2015. [4] On January 27, 2016, Jackie Burns replaced Idina Menzel as Elizabeth for the remainder of the tour. [5]

Productions

After a developmental lab in April 2013, featuring Idina Menzel and directed by Michael Greif, [6] If/Then staged an out-of-town tryout at the National Theatre, Washington, D.C. from November 5 to December 8, 2013. [7] The musical began previews on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 5, 2014, and officially opened on March 30. [8]

The Broadway production is directed by Greif, with choreography by Larry Keigwin, sets by Mark Wendland, costumes by Emily Rebholz, lighting by Kenneth Posner, and orchestrations by Michael Starobin. The original cast includes Menzel as Elizabeth, LaChanze as Kate, James Snyder as Josh, and Anthony Rapp as Lucas, along with Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Jenn Colella, Jerry Dixon, and Jason Tam. [8]

A national tour, with Menzel again in the starring role, began in Denver in October 2015. [4]

A South Korean production is set to play in Hongik Daehakro Art Center Grand Theater from December 8, 2022 to February 26, 2023. [9]

Synopsis

NOTE: An intermission is taken after "Surprise."

Musical numbers

† In the pre-Broadway production, this song is not performed; instead, "The Story of Dick and Jane", was performed by Kate and company
‡ In the pre-Broadway production, this song is moved and performed between "This Day / Walking By A Wedding" and "Hey Kid"
* In the pre-Broadway production, this song is not performed; instead, a different version of "No More Wasted Time", was performed by Kate and Anne

Notable casts

RoleOriginal BroadwayNational Tour
Elizabeth Vaughn Idina Menzel
Kate LaChanze
Lucas Anthony Rapp
Josh Barton James Snyder
Stephen Jerry Dixon Daren A. Herbert
Anne Jenn Colella Janine DiVita
David Jason Tam Marc de la Cruz
Elena Tamika Lawrence Kyra Faith
Deputy Mayor and othersJoe CassidyCorey Greenan
A Bartender and others Miguel Cervantes Cliffton Hall
A Soldier and othersCurtis HolbrookXavier Cano
A Flight Attendant and othersStephanie KlemonsAlicia Taylor Tomasko
A Street Musician and othersTyler McGee
Paulette and others Ryann Redmond English Bernhardt
An Architect and othersJoe Aaron Reid—
Cathy and othersAnn Sanders Deedee Magno Hall

Reception

While at the National Theatre, Peter Marks, reviewing for The Washington Post praised Menzel, calling her "an earthy star with heavenly pipes" [10] but said the play makes "it difficult to determine at any given moment which of the stories of Elizabeth's fate we're in". [10] Marks noted that the show has the ingredients that it needs for success: "It's a winning blob, and it provides a lot of engaging elements, from Mark Wendland's becoming minimalist set, with rotating skeletons of city apartments and handsome retractable fire escapes, to Emily Rebholz's sleek and taste-drenched costumes. The score — a far sunnier composition than the songwriters worked out for their Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about mental illness, 'Next to Normal' — gives Tony-winner Menzel the power ballads in which her fans from 'Wicked' and 'Rent' will exult." [10]

The Broadway production received primarily mixed reviews, with the consensus being that the cast shone, but the score and book were still unclear. Ben Brantley of The New York Times gave a mixed review but stated that Idina Menzel "brings an anxious intensity to a featherweight part". [11] Mark Kennedy of ABC News said, "An uneven — maybe not completely finished — show opened Sunday at the Richard Rodgers Theatre with an intriguing, ambitious premise and a leading lady with a shockingly good voice, but a clumsy story and too few impressive songs". [12] Peter Marks of The Washington Post summed up his review with, "If/Then is an enjoyable, beautifully sung, at times deeply touching experience, built on a structure that never completely works." [13] Robert Hofler of The Wrap gave an optimistic review, comparing the show's non-traditional structure to Stephen Sondheim's Company , saying "Today, audiences seeing those classic shows understand perfectly what's going on. Audiences seeing them in the original productions – take it from me – were very confused and exasperated" and that "...it's an intriguing book, but one that Yorkey might tinker with beyond opening night, just as the books of 'Merrily We Roll Along' and 'Follies' went through many revisions after their respective Broadway premieres. In other words, see 'If/Then' now so you can have the fun of making comparisons to its future revivals, of which there will be many". [14] Elysa Gardner of USA Today was positive, writing, "Yorkey's book and lyrics match the probing compassion of Normal without indulging in that show's preciousness. The characters here are more accessible and likable, from James Snyder's rugged but tender Josh to Anthony Rapp's wry Lucas, Elizabeth's longtime friend. LaChanze brings infectious verve to the role of Kate, a lesbian schoolteacher who evolves from a stock comic-buddy type into a compelling individual. As for the leading lady, Menzel seems both grounded and energized by the opportunity to play a grownup who learns that there really are no ever-afters. There is poignance in that discovery, but a sense of liberation as well, and If/Then captures both to moving, invigorating effect." [15]

Despite mixed reviews, the show enjoyed strong box-office returns. During its first full week of performances, the show debuted in the top 10 with $931,268. [16] The show was highlighted by Entertainment Weekly as one of the hits of the 2013–2014 season. [17] By the last week of April the show was playing to over 97% capacity and was noted as one of the two highest-grossing new musicals. [18] [19] In May, If/Then was noted by Variety as being one of "the spring openers that have shown box office strength all along," and was still bringing in over a million dollars at the box-office every week. [20] Also in May, Deadline Hollywood highlighted the fact that If/Then was defying the odds as one of the few original musicals to perform strongly in recent years, with most original musicals only lasting around a month. Deadline.com went on to comment on the strength of Menzel's name and fan-base as being behind the show's financial success. [21] Nevertheless, the production likely closed at a loss. [22]

Streaming series

While the show was on Broadway, James Snyder hosted a Broadway.com vlog titled Hey Kid showing what went on backstage. The series was originally expected to run for an eight episode single season, but was extended to 12 episodes due to popularity, before being extended again. It ended up running for three seasons, or 24 episodes, making it one of the longest-running Broadway.com vlogs ever.

Awards and nominations

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2014 Tony Award [23] Best Original Score Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey Nominated
Best Lead Actress in a Musical Idina Menzel Nominated
Drama Desk Award [24] Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations Michael Starobin Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award [25] Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey Nominated
Drama League Award [26] Distinguished Performance Idina Menzel Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idina Menzel</span> American actress (born 1971)

Idina Kim Menzel is an American actress and singer. Particularly recognized for her work in musicals on Broadway, she has been nicknamed the "Queen of Broadway" for her commanding stage presence, powerful mezzo-soprano, and reputation as one of the most influential stage actors of her generation. Having achieved mainstream success across stage, screen, and music, her accolades include an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, a Daytime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for three Drama League Awards, and four Drama Desk Awards. In 2019, Menzel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was named a Disney Legend in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Rapp</span> American actor (born 1971)

Anthony Deane Rapp is an American actor and singer who originated the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent. Following his original performance of the role in 1996, he reprised it in the film version of the show and the show's United States tour in 2009. He also performed Charlie Brown in the 1999 Broadway revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and originated the role of Lucas in the musical If/Then in 2014. Since 2017 he has played Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets on the television series Star Trek: Discovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoshana Bean</span> American actress and singer-songwriter (born 1977)

Shoshana E. Bean is an American singer, songwriter, and stage actress. She has released three records and has appeared on many theater cast recordings and film soundtracks. In 2022, Bean received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Susan Young in Mr. Saturday Night.

<i>Wicked</i> (musical) 2003 musical by Stephen Schwartz

Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. It is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is in turn based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie J. Block</span> American actress and singer (born 1972)

Stephanie Janette Block is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on the Broadway stage.

<i>Next to Normal</i> Broadway musical

Next to Normal is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her family. The musical addresses grief, depression, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and the underbelly of suburban life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian d'Arcy James</span> American actor and musician

Brian d'Arcy James is an American actor and musician. He is known primarily for his Broadway roles, including Shrek in Shrek the Musical, Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!, King George III in Hamilton, and the Baker in Into the Woods, and has received four Tony Award nominations for his work. On-screen, he is known for his recurring role as Andy Baker on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, Officer Krupke in West Side Story, and reporter Matt Carroll in Spotlight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaChanze</span> American actress, singer and dancer

LaChanze Sapp-Gooding, known professionally as LaChanze, is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2006 for her role as Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple. In 2023, LaChanze received two more Tony Awards, this time as a producer. She served as co-producer on Kimberly Akimbo, which won the Tony for Best New Musical and Topdog/Underdog, which won for Best Revival of a Play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Groff</span> American actor (born 1985)

Jonathan Drew Groff is an American actor and singer. He began his career on Broadway, rising to prominence for his portrayal of Melchior Gabor in the original production of Spring Awakening (2006–08), for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He returned to Broadway to portray King George III in the original production of Hamilton (2015), for which he earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He currently stars opposite Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez in the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Finn</span> American theatrical producer

Jeffrey Finn is an American theatrical producer. He is the Vice President of Theater Producing and Programming at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Artistic Director of Broadway Center Stage. He received the Commercial Theater Institute's 2013 Robert Whitehead Award for outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing. Finn is the President of Jeffrey Finn Productions and Hot On Broadway. He attended Connecticut College, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1992. He attended Beaver Country Day School from 1984 to 1988. Finn is a executive member of The Broadway League and The Independent Presenters Network, and is also a Tony Award voter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Kitt (musician)</span> American composer and musician

Thomas Robert Kitt is an American composer, conductor, orchestrator, and musician. For his score for the musical Next to Normal, he shared the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama with Brian Yorkey. He has also won two Tony Awards and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Next to Normal, as well as Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominations for If/Then and SpongeBob SquarePants. He has been nominated for eight Drama Desk Awards, winning one, and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for Jagged Little Pill in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Yorkey</span> American playwright

Brian Yorkey is an American playwright and lyricist. His works often explore dark and controversial subject matter such as mental illness, grief, the underbelly of suburbia, and ethics in both psychiatry and public education.

<i>Giant</i> (musical) 2009 musical

Giant is a musical based on the 1952 Edna Ferber novel of the same name, with music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and the book by Sybille Pearson. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in 2009. The story follows a ranch family in Texas over 30 years, and the effect of the oil boom. The musical premiered off-Broadway in 2012.

Jackie Burns is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theatre.

Ryann Kirby Redmond is an American actress and singer known for originating the role of Bridget in Bring It On: The Musical. She performed on Broadway in the musical If/Then, which closed on March 22, 2015, and became the first female actor to portray Olaf in Frozen on Broadway, in 2019.

Janet Krupin is an American actress, singer, writer, and producer. She is best known as a Broadway performer and the original host of the popular web-series "The Click Clique." On Broadway, she originated the role of Kylar in Bring It On: The Musical, and was a swing in the musical If/Then on Broadway. As a musician, released her debut EP, Aurora EP, as part of the musical duo Trillium, and is currently performing as a founding member of The Jackson Massive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janine DiVita</span> American actress

Janine DiVita is an American actress best known for her roles on Broadway and in musical theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celia Rose Gooding</span> American actor and singer

Celia Rose Gooding is an American actor and singer. They made their Broadway debut and rose to prominence for the role of Mary Frances "Frankie" Healy in the rock musical Jagged Little Pill for which they won a 2021 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and were nominated for a 2020 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest nominees in the category at age 20. Their mother is LaChanze, an American actress, singer, and dancer. Gooding plays the role of Nyota Uhura in the Paramount+ original series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idina Menzel on screen and stage</span>

Idina Menzel is an American actress of stage, film, and television. She rose to prominence for playing Maureen Johnson in the Broadway production of Rent. She also originated the role of Elphaba in Wicked.

References

  1. ↑ Gans, Andrew (July 24, 2013). "Tix Now on Sale for Pre-Broadway Engagement of New Musical If/Then, Starring Tony Winner Idina Menzel". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  2. ↑ Rosky, Nicole (April 16, 2014). "IF/THEN Cast Album Tracklist Announced; Release Set for 6/3". BroadwayWorld.
  3. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (June 11, 2014). "Idina Menzel's 'If/Then' Scores Show-Stopping Chart Debut". Billboard.
  4. 1 2 Gioia, Michael (May 27, 2015). "Starting Over, Again! Idina Menzel Will Launch The National Tour of If/Then". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Jackie Burns wows in thoughtful 'If/Then' national tour". Dallas Morning News. January 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  6. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (March 7, 2013). "Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey Broadway Musical If/Then Will Get NYC Lab Presentation". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  7. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (November 24, 2013). "Pre-Broadway Premiere of If/Then, Starring Idina Menzel, Opens Nov. 24 in Washington, DC". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Hetrick, Adam (August 27, 2013). "Miguel Cervantes, Curtis Holbrook, Ryann Redmond Join Broadway's If/Then; Complete Cast and Creative Team Announced". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  9. ↑ "쇼노트 > 뮤지컬". www.shownote.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  10. 1 2 3 Marks, Peter. "Eagerly awaited musical 'If/Then' is a winning blob, with many kinks to be worked out". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  11. ↑ Brantley, Ben (March 30, 2014). "In 'If/Then,' Idina Menzel Travels Two Paths". The New York Times.
  12. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (March 31, 2014). "Review: Menzel Shines but 'If/Then' Too Sloppy". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014.
  13. ↑ Marks, Peter (March 30, 2014). "Sleeker, smarter, more exhilarating 'If/Then' musical hits Broadway". The Washington Post.
  14. ↑ Hofler, Robert (March 30, 2014). "'If/Then' Theater Review: Idina Menzel Lets It Go and Go". The Wrap. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  15. ↑ Gardner, Elysa (March 30, 2014). "Idina Menzel embraces reality in 'If/Then'". USA Today.
  16. ↑ Heller, Scott (April 27, 2014). "'If/Then' Opens Well at the Box Office". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  17. ↑ Geier, Thom (April 14, 2014). "Broadway box office: Denzel Washington's 'Raisin in the Sun' is season's biggest hit". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  18. ↑ Healy, Patrick (April 21, 2014). "Growing Sales for 'Beautiful' and 'Rocky' on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ Simonson, Robert (April 22, 2014). "Broadway Box-Office Analysis, April 14–20: If/Then, Lady Day and More Boast Almost-Full Audiences". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  20. ↑ Cox, Gordon (May 12, 2014). "Broadway Box Office: The Street Sticks to Its Guns Against TV Upfronts and 'Godzilla'". Variety.
  21. ↑ Gerard, Jeremy (May 13, 2014). "Broadway B.O.: Idina Menzel's Star Power; Fred Zollo's Photographic Memory". Deadline.
  22. ↑ "History of Recoups". Broadway Brain. April 20, 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  23. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 29, 2014). "68th Annual Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Gentleman's Guide Leads the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  24. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 25, 2014). "2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards Nominations Announced; Gentleman's Guide Earns 12 Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  25. ↑ "2013-2014 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  26. ↑ Gardner, Elysa (April 23, 2014). "Denzel, Daniel, Neil among Drama League Award nominees". USA Today. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.