Emojiland

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Emojiland
A textistential new musical
Logo for the 2022 Garrick Theatre Production
MusicKeith Harrison Dworkin
Lyrics
  • Keith Harrison Dworkin
  • Laura Schein
Book
  • Keith Harrison Dworkin
  • Laura Schein
Productions

Emojiland is a pop musical written by Keith Harrison Dworkin and Laura Schein. It premiered off-Broadway on January 19, 2020, at the Duke on 42nd Street. It centers around a group of emojis living in the world of a smartphone on the eve of a software update.

Background

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"Emojiland is an electric ensemble piece about a diverse community of archetypes who take one another at face value:[1] a smiling face dealing with depression; a princess who doesn’t want a prince; a skull dying for deletion; a nerd face too smart for his own good; a face with sunglasses who can’t see past his own reflection; and a police officer and construction worker who just want to work together. When a software update threatens to destroy life as they know it, Emojiland faces the most fundamental questions a society – and a heart – can face: Who are we? And who matters?"

Productions

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Emojiland was first performed live in concert in Los Angeles.[2][3]

Emojiland was first presented in New York City on July 22, 2018, as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.[4] It was staged at the Acorn Theater at Theater Row.[5]

Off-Broadway

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After its success as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the show premiered Off-Broadway on January 19, 2020, at The Duke on 42nd Street.[6]

It starred Lesli Margherita as Princess, Josh Lamon as Prince, George Abud as Nerd Face, Laura Schein as Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes aka Smize, Lucas Steele as Skull, and Ann Harada as Pile of Poo.

The production was directed by Thomas Caruso and choreographed by Kenny Ingram, with musical direction by Lena Gabrielle. It featured scenic design by David Goldstein, costume and make-up design by Vanessa Leuck, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, sound design by Ken Goodwin, hair and wig design by Bobbie Zlotnik, and projection design by Lisa Renkel and Possible Productions.

The musical was a Critic's Pick from The New York Times[7] and played a total of 11 Previews and 59 Performances before the COVID-19 shutdown.

In May 2022, the show announced a non-union national tour beginning in June 2022, but was subsequently cancelled after its first stop in Columbus, Ohio.[8][9] Though it ended early, the tour production was captured live in Columbus with plans for it to be released, though no more news has been heard as of August 2024.[10]

West End Concert

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In October 2022 a one-off concert version of the show was held at the Garrick Theatre in heart of London’s West End. It featured a star-studded British cast including Olly Dobson as Skull, Louise Dearman as Princess, Hannah Lowther as Kissyface and Natalie Paris as Construction Worker.[11]

3Below Theaters Production

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In October 2024, a new condensed version of the show will run from October 17th - November 24th, 2024 at the 3Below Theater in San Jose. The condensed version cut the two ensemble roles of People Dancing, introduced one new role ("Angry Face") and doubled characters to trim the cast from fourteen to eight people.[12]

Musical numbers

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Characters and original casts

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Character[14] New York Musical Festival (2018)[15] Off-Broadway Premiere (2020)
The Duke on 42nd Street 		US Tour (2022)[16] West End Concert (2022) [17] 3Below Theaters (2024)[12]
Smize (Smiling Face) Laura Schein Sarah Isola Laura Baldwin Emily Anne Goes
Nerd Face Keith Harrison George Abud Sheridan Mirador Blake Patrick Anderson Tuânminh Albert Đỗ
Princess Lesli Margherita Gina Morgigno Louise Dearman Aeriol Ascher
Pile of Poo Jessie Alagna Ann Harada Maeghin Mueller Hiba Elchikhe
Prince Josh Lamon Steven Klenk Oliver Savile James Creer
Skull Jordon Bolden Lucas Steele Michael C. Brown Olly Dobson Alan Palmer
Person in Business Suit Levitating* Alex Kunz Max Crumm Dahlya Glick Jonny Weldon
Sunny (Sunglasses) Cooper Howell Jacob Dickey Christopher Hobson Dean John-Wilson Frankie Mulcahy
Guard Brandon L. Armstrong Dwelvan David Keith Mankowski Tim Mahendran
Construction Worker Megan Kane Natalie Weiss Jaden Dominique Lewis Natalie Paris Brie Anne Martin
Angry Face
Information Desk Person Chloe Fox Heather Makalani Oshie Mellon Hannah Lowther
Kissy Face Osher Fine
Police Officer Angela Wildflower Felicia Boswell Zachary A. Myers Renee Lamb
Person Dancing #1° Tanisha Moore Alana Walker
Person Dancing #2° Jordan Fife Hunt Andrew Tufano

*The role was originally "Man In Business Suit Levitating," but was changed to "Person In Business Suit Levitating" in the US Tour and onward.

°Person Dancing #1 and #2 both were named Woman Dancing and Man Dancing, respectively, prior to the US Tour.

Awards and honors

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Original Off-Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2020 Lucille Lortel Awards[18] Outstanding Projection Design Lisa Renkel and Possible Nominated
Drama Desk Awards[19] Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical George Abud Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Vanessa Leuck Nominated
Outstanding Projection Design Lisa Renkel and Possible Productions Nominated
Outstanding Wig and Hair Design Bobbie Zlotnik Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards[20] Outstanding Costume Design Vanessa Leuck Won
Outstanding Projection Design Lisa Renkel and Possible Productions Won

References

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  1. ^ "Emojiland The Musical Original Cast Recording MP3". Broadway Records. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  2. ^ Velazco, Chris (July 17, 2018). "'Emojiland' blends musical theater and existential angst". Engadget. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  3. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 12, 2016). "New Musical About Emojis Will Premiere in Los Angeles". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  4. ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura (2018-07-22). "'Emojiland' and a Graceful Elegy at the New York Musical Festival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  5. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlyn (2018-07-19). "Why is Emojiland so concerned with the inner lives of emoji?". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  6. ^ Gardner, Elysa (2020-01-20). "Emojiland: Once You Get Restarted". New York Stage Review. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  7. ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura (2020-01-20). "'Emojiland' Review: There's a Rom-Com in Your Phone. With Music". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  8. ^ Wild, Stephi. "EMOJILAND Announces Cast and First Dates For US Tour". Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  9. ^ Henry, Alan. "EMOJILAND Tour To Close Following First Stop; Production Will Be Recorded In Columbus". Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  10. ^ Henry, Alan. "EMOJILAND Tour To Close Following First Stop; Production Will Be Recorded In Columbus". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  11. ^ Putnam, Leah. "Emojiland Concert Takes the London Stage With West End Alums October 31". Playbill.
  12. ^ a b "Emojiland". 3Below Theaters. 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  13. ^ Schein, Laura (2020-03-24). "Track by track breakdown the score to Off-Broadway hit Emojiland". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  14. ^ Clement, Olivia (2020-01-19). "Emojiland Opens Off-Broadway January 19". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  15. ^ "Emojiland at Acorn Theater 2018". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  16. ^ "Emojiland Announces National Touring Cast - TheaterMania.com". 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  17. ^ "Emojiland The Musical Tickets | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  18. ^ Clement, Olivia (2020-04-14). "Playwrights Horizons leads 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations with Strange Loop and Heroes of the Fourth Turning". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  19. ^ Seymour, Lee (2020-04-21). "2020 Drama Desk Awards: Complete List Of Nominees". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  20. ^ Clement, Olivia (2020-05-11). "Moulin Rouge leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
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