# Emojiland

Emojiland is a pop musical written by Keith Harrison Dworkin and Laura Schein. It premiered off-Broadway on January 19, 2020, at the Duke on 42nd Street. It centers around a group of emojis living in the world of a smartphone on the eve of a software update.

## Background

"Emojiland is an electric ensemble piece about a diverse community of archetypes who take one another at face value: 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?"

## Productions

Emojiland was first performed live in concert in Los Angeles.
Emojiland was first presented in New York City on July 22, 2018, as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. It was staged at the Acorn Theater at Theater Row.

### Off-Broadway

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.
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 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. 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.

### West End Concert

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.

### 3Below Theaters Production

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.

## Characters and original casts

| Character | New York Musical Festival (2018) | Off-Broadway Premiere (2020) The Duke on 42nd Street | US Tour (2022) | West End Concert (2022) | 3Below Theaters (2024) |
| Smize (Smiling Face) | Laura Schein | Laura Schein | Sarah Isola | Laura Baldwin | Emily Anne Goes |
| Nerd Face | Keith Harrison | George Abud | Sheridan Mirador | Blake Patrick Anderson | Tuânminh Albert Đỗ |
| Princess | Lesli Margherita | Lesli Margherita | Gina Morgigno | Louise Dearman | Aeriol Ascher |
| Pile of Poo | Jessie Alagna | Ann Harada | Maeghin Mueller | Hiba Elchikhe | Aeriol Ascher |
| Prince | Josh Lamon | Josh Lamon | Steven Klenk | Oliver Savile | James Creer |
| Skull | Jordon Bolden | Lucas Steele | Michael C. Brown | Olly Dobson | Alan Palmer |
| Person in Business Suit Levitating* | Alex Kunz | Max Crumm | Dahlya Glick | Jonny Weldon | Alan Palmer |
| Sunny (Sunglasses) | Cooper Howell | Jacob Dickey | Christopher Hobson | Dean John-Wilson | Frankie Mulcahy |
| Guard | Brandon L. Armstrong | Dwelvan David | Keith Mankowski | Tim Mahendran | Frankie Mulcahy |
| Construction Worker | Megan Kane | Natalie Weiss | Jaden Dominique Lewis | Natalie Paris | BrieAnne Alisa Martin |
| Angry Face | | | | | BrieAnne Alisa Martin |
| Information Desk Person | Chloe Fox | Heather Makalani | Oshie Mellon | Hannah Lowther | BrieAnne Alisa Martin |
| Kissy Face | | Heather Makalani | Oshie Mellon | Hannah Lowther | Osher Fine |
| Police Officer | Angela Wildflower | Felicia Boswell | Zachary A. Myers | Renee Lamb | Osher Fine |
| Person Dancing #1° | | Tanisha Moore | Alana Walker | | |
| Person Dancing #2° | | Jordan Fife Hunt | Andrew Tufano | | |
*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.

## Awards and honors
### Original Off-Broadway production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2020 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Projection Design | Lisa Renkel and Possible | Nominated |
| 2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | George Abud | Nominated |
| 2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical | Vanessa Leuck | Nominated |
| 2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Projection Design | Lisa Renkel and Possible Productions | Nominated |
| 2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair Design | Bobbie Zlotnik | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Vanessa Leuck | Won |
| 2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Projection Design | Lisa Renkel and Possible Productions | Won |