All of this brilliance comes from its source material, an album of genre-defying music by Sufjan Stevens, whose large catalog is largely unfamiliar to me, save for his work on the soundtrack of Call Be By Your Name. A collection of songs, riffs and history (and everything in between) about the state of Illinois, the musical has transformed it into a beautifully rendered collection of stories told through dance and crafted into a magical piece of theater by book writer Jackie Sibblies Drury and creator of this work, Justin Peck. A celebration of community, of love and despair, of death and rebirth, the show tells of Henry, a lost and grieving young man who comes upon a group of storytellers who gather to express and explore the human experience. They tell stories that honor the past, offer a humorous take on American politics (with zombies, no less) in a "Tale of John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," (danced ominously by Alejandro Vargas) that would please Sondheim and Fosse, and even a rumination on whether it is Superman or Clark Kent who is the real superhero (danced joyously by Brandt Martinez). Finally, it is Henry's turn to tell his story, and it is a sweeping, emotional, and ultimately thrilling tale of finding oneself, finding love, jealousy, anger, and the pain of profound loss, before finding oneself again. There are only words in the songs; not one word of dialog is spoken, and yet, this show may have the best book Broadway has seen in years.
There are three principal vocalists Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-Vanlear and Elijah Lyons who give us the words to go with action, and their stylings are an exquisite match for each and every mood the score demands. They are as much a part of this campfire community as the dancers. In fact, so much so that they are named after different moths to match the moth wings each wears. They are figuratively moths to a flame and symbolically represent what moths do throughout history and literature: life, change, transformation, death, and rebirth.
There are four principal dancers who tell the majority of the story, and sure, they shine as a cohesive mini-ensemble, but it is the gifts that they bring to the piece as individuals that makes this show the truly special thing that it is. I won't tell you why they are important as you really need to experience it for yourself, but here goes... Ahmad Simmons (Douglas) is a quiet tower of strength, athletic and elegant. Gaby Diaz (Shelby) is a feather in the wind, gracefully, silently, tragically, whirling about the stage. Ben Cook (Carl), youthful and exuberant, is charisma personified, and a flawless combination of his three co-stars all at once. But as the lead of the whole thing, it is Ricky Ubeda (Henry) who captivates whether he is center stage or mixed in with the ensemble. He so bravely and unselfishly bares his soul through his dancing; not a single person in the packed house could be untouched by the feelings he was emitting. I wouldn't be surprised to hear any of their names read out next week.