Cinco Paul, the composer behind ‘Schmigadoon!’, grew up immersed in the world of musicals. His mother, a piano teacher, frequently played cast recordings and taught him many songs. As a child, he envisioned himself in roles from well-known musicals such as ‘Camelot’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, and ‘My Fair Lady’. He also watched classic movies like ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, and attended local theater productions in Phoenix of shows like ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ and ‘Carousel’.
Paul, now a successful screenwriter of family films like ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, has always maintained his passion for musicals. In his thirties, he conceptualized a show inspired by the 1947 musical ‘Brigadoon’. The show envisioned two outsiders arriving in a village where life resembles a musical.
Years later, this idea materialized as ‘Schmigadoon!’, a 2021 AppleTV+ series. It follows Melissa and Josh, two doctors caught in a town teeming with musical numbers. Even Josh, initially skeptic, learns to embrace singing through the whimsical story, featuring elements like dream ballets.
Transitioning from screen to stage, ‘Schmigadoon!’ is now a Broadway musical. The New York Times’ Elisabeth Vincentelli praised it as affectionate yet sharp. The musical numbers resonate with many classic references, spanning several famous musicals.
Paul assures that even those unfamiliar with these references will appreciate the universal humor. Yet, for musical enthusiasts, additional nuances abound, like allusions to Oscar Hammerstein’s lyrics.
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