SCHMIGADOON

A Magical Summer Day Trip to See Schmigadoon! on Broadway

This summer, as soon as school let out and my husband headed off to work, I found myself in bed thinking, “What fun adventure can I squeeze in today?” The answer? A spontaneous solo day trip to New York City for some Broadway magic.

I remembered entering the Broadway Direct lottery from a previous visit, so I gave it another shot — and won! I scored tickets to the Tony Award-winning musical Schmigadoon! at the Nederlander Theatre. I hopped in the car, used SpotHero to find convenient parking just a 10-minute walk from the theater (absolute lifesaver), and I was off.

I went in knowing almost nothing about the show, which made it even better. I had no idea it originated as an Apple TV+ series or that it had played at the Kennedy Center, practically in my own backyard in Northern Virginia. From the first notes, I was completely hooked.

The performances were outstanding across the board. Ana Gasteyer as Mildred Layton (the villain) was absolutely deliciously wicked and scene-stealing. We also loved Ann Harada as Florence Menlove, the mayor’s wife — her timing and sweetness were perfect. The song “Trials and Tribulations” is now stuck in my head in the best way. But the one who absolutely stole the show for me was McKenzie Kurtz as Betsy, the farmer’s daughter. Without spoiling anything, her live performance was hilarious and scene-stealing in the most delightful way.

The whole production left me buzzing. I felt so inspired that I immediately wanted to dust off my violin and start practicing again. It also reignited a serious thirst to see more live theater this summer.

I was so enamored after that first show that I turned right around and bought tickets for the very next weekend so my husband could experience it with me. We ended up sitting one row behind where I had been the first time — incredibly close to the stage. Sharing it with him made it even more special.

While we were in the city, we also caught the immersive Stranger Things: The First Shadow show (which is wild and worth experiencing) and spent time wandering around Manhattan, soaking up the energy.

Final Verdict: Schmigadoon! is pure joy — clever, funny, heartfelt, and bursting with incredible talent. Whether you loved the Apple TV version or are discovering it for the first time like I mostly did, the stage production is a total delight. If you get the chance through the lottery or otherwise, go see it!

Highly recommend making a day (or weekend) trip out of it. Broadway never disappoints, and this one reminded me why live theater is so special.