Emojiland

"Emojiland is an electric ensemble piece about a diverse community of archetypes who take one another at face value:{{Cite web|date=2020-02-28 |title=Emojiland The Musical Original Cast Recording MP3|url=https://www.broadwayrecords.com/products/emojiland-the-musical-original-cast-recording-mp3|website=Broadway Records|language=en|access-date=2022-09-21}} 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?"

Emojiland was first performed live in concert in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Velazco |first=Chris |date=July 17, 2018 |title='Emojiland' blends musical theater and existential angst |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018-07-17-emojiland-musical-existential-angst.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=April 12, 2016 |title=New Musical About Emojis Will Premiere in Los Angeles |url=https://playbill.com/article/new-musical-about-emojis-will-premiere-in-los-angeles |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}}

Emojiland was first presented in New York City on July 22, 2018, as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.{{Cite news |last=Collins-Hughes |first=Laura |date=2018-07-22 |title='Emojiland' and a Graceful Elegy at the New York Musical Festival |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/22/theater/review-new-york-musical-emojiland.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |issn=0362-4331}} It was staged at the Acorn Theater at Theater Row.{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=2018-07-19 |title=Why is Emojiland so concerned with the inner lives of emoji? |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/19/17591308/emojiland-new-york-musical-festival-emoji-movie-inside-out-pixar |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |date=2020-01-20 |title=Emojiland: Once You Get Restarted |url=https://nystagereview.com/2020/01/20/emojiland-once-you-get-restarted/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=New York Stage Review |language=en-US}}

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{{Cite news |last=Collins-Hughes |first=Laura |date=2020-01-20 |title='Emojiland' Review: There's a Rom-Com in Your Phone. With Music. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/19/theater/emojiland-review-theres-a-rom-com-in-your-phone-with-music.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |issn=0362-4331}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=EMOJILAND Announces Cast and First Dates For US Tour |language=en |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/EMOJILAND-Announces-Cast-and-First-Dates-For-US-Tour-20220505 |access-date=2022-05-19}}{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Alan |title=EMOJILAND Tour To Close Following First Stop; Production Will Be Recorded In Columbus |language=en |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/EMOJILAND-Tour-To-Close-Following-First-Stop-Production-Will-Be-Recorded-In-Columbus-20220601 |access-date=2022-06-01}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Alan |title=EMOJILAND Tour To Close Following First Stop; Production Will Be Recorded In Columbus |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/EMOJILAND-Tour-To-Close-Following-First-Stop-Production-Will-Be-Recorded-In-Columbus-20220601 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Putnam |first=Leah |title=Emojiland Concert Takes the London Stage With West End Alums October 31 |url=https://playbill.com/article/emojiland-concert-takes-the-london-stage-with-west-end-alums-october-31 |website=Playbill}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=Emojiland |url=https://3belowtheaters.com/emojiland/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=3Below Theaters}}

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; Act 1{{Cite web |last=Schein |first=Laura |date=2020-03-24 |title=Track by track breakdown the score to Off-Broadway hit Emojiland |url=https://playbill.com/article/track-by-track-breakdown-the-score-to-off-broadway-hit-emojiland|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2022-09-21}}

• "Overture" – Orchestra
• "It’s Just So Great To Be Alive" – Company
• "Sad On The Inside" – Smize
• "Princess Is a Bitch" – Princess
• "The Progress Bar" – Company
• "Zeros & Ones" – Nerd Face, Smize
• "Cross My Bones" - Skull, Nerd Face
• "New Crown In Town" – Prince
• "Work Together" – Police Officer, Construction Worker
• "Stand For" – Construction Worker
• "Thank Me Now" – Skull

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; Act 2

• "Entr’acte" – Orchestra
• "Firewall Ball" – Prince, Princess, Sunny, Company
• "Pile Of Poo" – Pile of Poo
• "Virus" – Company
• "A Thousand More Words" – Police Officer
• "Anyway" – Smize, Nerd Face
• "Start Again" – Nerd Face, Skull
• "It’s Just So Great To Be Alive (Reprise)" – Company

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*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.

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Category:Off-Broadway musicals

Category:Emoji

Category:2020 musicals