Schmicago Teaser Has Queer Stars Kicking Up Their Heels

The first season of Schmigadoon made musical theater fans feel seen with its insider nods to the great Broadway and Hollywood musicals of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s, and it did so while handily changing the narrative just slightly to center queer people, BIPOC people, and women in ways old musicals failed to do. Now season 2 of the Apple TV+ series with original music from co-creator Cinco Paul is almost here, and a new teaser for Schmicago reveals that the show’s leads Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) are entering into the much darker and sexier world view of ’70s musical theater. And, as in its first season, the show teems with queer talent including Tituss Burgess, Ariana DeBose, Dove Cameron, and Alan Cumming.

Having found their love again in the magical town of Schmigadoon, where everything is resolved through a production number, Melissa and Josh are together back in the real world, but find that they crave the song, dance, and costumes of musicals. In search of Schmigadoon, they happen upon Schmicago, where bowler hats, fishnets, corsets, and murder abound. Melissa, the musical theater lover of the pair, instructs Josh on how to behave in the seedier world of 1970s musicals.

Fans who devoured Schmigadoon’s Easter egg references to Oklahoma, The Music Man, Carousel, The Sound of Music, and so on will no doubt recognize many faves of the era. The Schmicago teaser alone features Burgess as a Leading Player type character à la Pippin and Cameron and DeBose nodding to Cabaret’s Sally Bowles and the Emcee (respectively). Meanwhile, returning Schmigadoon stars Cumming and Kristen Chenoweth are caught in a mash-up of Sweeney Todd and Annie while Aaron Tveit leans into the hippie musicals Hair and Godspell. But it wouldn’t be Schmicago without Chicago, and that’s where Jane Krakowski comes in. That’s not where the Fosse ends, though. There’s a nod to Sweet Charity too. First-season stars Jamie Camil and Ann Harada are also back for season 2.

Schmicago or (Schmigadoon Season 2) premieres on Apple TV+ on April 5.

Watch the teaser below.

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