Musical Nostalgia in ‘Schmigadoon!’

Composer Cinco Paul discusses the playful nods to classic musicals evident in his new Broadway production, ‘Schmigadoon!’. This musical satire, derived from the 2021 AppleTV+ series, is currently on stage at the Nederlander Theater in Manhattan.

Cinco Paul has a deep-rooted affinity for musicals, tracing back to his childhood. His mother, who taught piano, frequently played cast recordings and imparted songs to him. As a child, Paul pictured himself as characters in productions like ‘Camelot’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’. He was familiar with ‘South Pacific’ and ‘My Fair Lady’, and enjoyed films such as ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Singin’ in the Rain’.

Living in Phoenix during his youth, Paul attended several local theater shows, including ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ and ‘Carousel’, emotionally engaging with numbers like ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

In adulthood, Paul made a name as a family film screenwriter with hits like ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘The Secret Life of Pets’. Yet, his passion for musical theater persisted. In his 30s, he conceived an idea for a show, drawing loose inspiration from the 1947 classic ‘Brigadoon’. His concept involved two outsiders who encounter a village where life mimics a musical.

Though initially shelved, Paul revisited this idea two decades later, developing ‘Schmigadoon!’, the 2021 AppleTV+ series. The story, centered on Melissa and Josh, a couple of disillusioned doctors trapped in a town where musical reprises abound, unfolded over two seasons. The series blended musical and narrative acts, helping even skeptical characters embrace song and dance.

The series has evolved into a Broadway musical. Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times praised it as an affectionate yet sharp production. Paul collaborated extensively in crafting songs, each serving as a tribute to multiple classic musicals.

Even those unfamiliar with musical theater can appreciate the comedy, according to Paul, 61. The humor is broad, appealing to diverse audiences, regardless of their knowledge of musical references such as Oscar Hammerstein’s lines in ‘Carousel’.