The love story on the middle of Broadway’s Illinoise has tugged at followers’ heartstrings, and a real-life couple is partially chargeable for the present’s magic.
Ben Cook dinner and Gaby Diaz play Carl and Shelby, respectively, within the new musical, which earned 4 Tony Award nominations following its April 2024 debut. Choreographed and directed by Justin Peck — a New York Metropolis Ballet prodigy and former Tony winner extra extensively recognized for choreographing Steven Spielberg’s West Facet Story movie — Illinoise makes use of dance to inform a narrative of affection, loss and new beginnings. (The present makes use of music from Sufjan Stevens’ beloved album Illinois carried out by vocalists and a band on an elevated platform above the solid of dancer-actors.)
Not solely did Cook dinner and Diaz have an present connection when work started on Illinoise, they every labored with Peck previously, as did lots of their costars. Illinoise additionally stars Ricky Ubeda as Henry, the point of interest of the love triangle with Carl and Shelby, with Ahmad Simmons, Jeanette Delgado, Rachel Lockhart, Byron Tittle and extra dancers every bringing life to Stevens’ music on stage.
“There’s such a wealthy emotional historical past that all of us share: Gaby is my girlfriend in actual life — we stay collectively — and Ricky, Ahmad and I’ve labored collectively many occasions,” Cook dinner advised Broadway.com in a joint interview with Ubeda in June 2024. “All of that performs a task in our capacity to attach with each other and share that with an viewers.”
Working with Diaz and their buddies on a present that’s reimagined what Broadway might be has felt like a dream come true. “This expertise goes to spoil us for any work we do sooner or later,” Cook dinner added. “The usual has been set, and if it’s a unique model of this for the subsequent 10 years, we’ll be fortunate.”
Illinoise marks Diaz’s Broadway debut — followers may acknowledge her for profitable So You Assume You Can Dance season 12 — however Cook dinner has been across the block on the Nice White Method. He’s starred in Ragtime, Billy Elliot, Newsies, Imply Ladies and extra.
Scroll down for a glimpse at Cook dinner and Diaz’s relationship off stage:
2019
Each Cook dinner and Diaz have been solid in Spielberg’s adaptation of West Facet Story. He was a part of the Jets, whereas she was a Shark.
2020
The couple spent loads of time collectively in the course of the COVID shutdown, typically sharing glimpses of park outings, hikes and extra.
2021
When West Facet Story premiered after pandemic-related delays, Cook dinner and Diaz every celebrated the milestone second. Diaz wrote by way of Instagram, “This expertise modified my life,” whereas Cook dinner gushed in a put up of his personal, “I’m so excited for everybody to see what our motley crew cooked up.”
2022
Cook dinner and Diaz shared pics from getaways to Los Angeles and London, in addition to their favourite moments with their canine in NYC. Diaz shared a candy tribute to her accomplice in December, writing by way of Instagram, “Glad birthday to you, candy factor. 💛.”
Typically falling in love onstage can result in an epic offstage romance — simply ask Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson, who met throughout a manufacturing of As soon as on This Island. “Les was chargeable for serving to me work out all of my blocking,” Robinson advised Broadway.com in October 2018, explaining that she was requested to […]
2023
The couple’s onstage collaboration started with a regional run of Illinoise (initially titled Illinois) at Bard School’s Fisher Middle within the Hudson Valley. “What a magical second in time. 🌼,” Diaz captioned an Instagram put up that summer time.
2024
Following its staging on the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Illinoise made its option to NYC, opening on the Park Avenue Armory earlier than its switch to Broadway. The manufacturing earned 4 Tony Award nominations and celebrated its premiere with a gala efficiency in Might.
“This entire factor has been two years within the making, and I bought to make it with a few of my finest buddies [and] my accomplice, my girlfriend,” Cook dinner gushed in an interview from the gala, gesturing to Diaz. “I’m over the moon.”
