Schmigadoon is created with “so much love” for the LGBTQ+ community, according to star Jane Krakowski.
The Apple TV musical comedy follows married couple Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) as they stumble across a magical town, titled Schmigadoon, that’s trapped in a Golden Age-style musical.
The newly-released sophomore season sees the town transform into Schmicago as the series pays homage to darker and sexier musicals of the 60s and 70s such as Chicago, Cabaret and Sweeney Todd.
Krakowski tells GAY TIMES that the camp stylings of Schmigadoon and Schmicago is “where I live, it combines my love of musical theatre and television comedy and puts them all together into one. This is a niche little gem of a project that I’m so happy to be part of.”
The beloved actress, who’s best known for iconic roles in Ally McBeal, 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, plays Bobby Flanagan in season two, a parody of Billy Flynn from Chicago and an homage to the female Bobby in the 2018 and 2021 revivals of Company.
“These musicals that we cover in season two, the 60s and 70s, are the ones that influenced me the most as I was growing up in musical theatre and loving the Gwen Verdon’s, the Chita Rivera’s, the Bob Fosse’s and Michael Bennett’s,” she explains.
“This was it for me, so I relished in all of it. I love that we can wear fishnets and garter belts and hold a press conference at noon!”
With the camp and bombastic nature of Schmigadoon, Krakowski ‘hopes’ the series is enjoyed by LGBTQ+ people as the cast and crew “make this with so much love” for the community: “I think you guys know what’s cool and what’s great entertainment, so I hope [the LGBTQ+ community] is watching!
“That is what we’re making it for. We hope that you delight in and love it. Because I grew up surrounded in that world and the musical theatre world, I take such pride and delight in entertaining that community. It means a lot to me.”
Premiering every Wednesday on Apple TV, the second season of Schmigadoon also stars Dove Cameron, Aaron Tveit, Jaime Camil, Kristen Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Ann Harada, Martin Short, Titus Burgess and Patrick Page.
Watch the trailer here or below.
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