Cinco Paul is the person behind the music of Apple TV+’s hit musical comedy Schmigadoon!
Paul co-created the sequence with longtime screenwriting accomplice Ken Daurio (the pair are additionally liable for Despicable Me and The Secret Life Of Pets, amongst others).
Paul serves as showrunner, songwriter, government producer, and director of a number of episodes. He even gained an Emmy for Schmigadoon! Season 1’s rollicking quantity, “Corn Puddin’.”
We caught up with Paul at a current press day to speak about what went into the creation of Schmigadoon! Season 2.
How has the fan response impacted the way you approached Season 2, or did you already know what you needed to do?
Going into Season 1, I knew I needed to do a number of seasons. My idea has all the time been [to] transfer by means of all of the completely different eras of musicals.
Throughout Season 1, after we have been taking pictures, as I began to determine issues out, watching the forged, I pulled Dove [Cameron] apart and mentioned, “How would you prefer to be Sally Bowles subsequent season?”
I pulled Aaron [Tveit] apart with, “What do you consider being Pippin/Jesus?” I simply needed to plant the seeds of what Season 2 had in retailer for them. In order that was all the time the plan.
It has been a thrill for me to see the response of followers and musical theatre individuals — that is my individuals! — each time anybody says, “I really feel this present was written only for me,” that is the best factor to listen to as a result of the present was written only for me! (laughs)
It is good that there are others on the market.
These three weirdos. Schmigadoon! season two coming April fifth! pic.twitter.com/xeV9ux9JAh
— Cinco Paul (@cincopedia) March 21, 2023
Would you say Season 2 is kind of accessible for the broader viewers in comparison with Season 1? Was that a part of your course of in selecting what exhibits to parody?
That was not a part of the method, however I feel, naturally, it’s extra accessible as a result of the exhibits we’re parodying are just a little extra trendy. They really feel extra present — [a revival of] Sweeney Todd is on Broadway proper now, and Chicago’s performed there ceaselessly.
These darker exhibits appear to final just a little longer. Possibly they age higher than among the different exhibits [from Season 1]. There’s lots on this season that’s extra relatable.
It is spectacular what number of disparate musicals you’ve got managed to mashup this season. Have been there any that you simply needed to incorporate however could not discover a approach to slot in?
I actually needed to do an “Ease On Down The Street”-style quantity from The Wiz, however I could not discover a place for it!
I could not discover a place the place anybody was making an attempt to get from Level A to Level B — every thing is so shut [together] in Schmicago. The musical quantity would have lasted ten seconds as a result of they’d go across the nook and be there!
There have been a number of locations I attempted to shoehorn it in, however I could not do it. So, that is my one remorse, that we did not get just a little little bit of The Wiz in there.
Additionally, we form of leapfrogged over West Aspect Story and Gypsy as a result of, for this season, my rule was 1965 – 1979.
I really feel unhealthy about that as a result of these are two of the best musicals ever made, however I feel they’re positive with out being addressed in Schmigadoon! They’re going to be okay! (laughs)
How is it completely different this time round with Season 2 versus Season 1, which was filmed on the peak of COVID?
It was extra liberating, particularly as a result of I needed to go outdoors, be on a backlot. That was good as a result of we weren’t masked up after we have been open air.
I’ll say that, like, throughout COVID, all of the forged was 100% accessible (laughs) on a regular basis. These are huge stars in our present, they usually’re busy, so it was just a little extra sophisticated to rearrange the schedules.
I all the time like to deliver everyone collectively initially and the top of the present, in order that’s all the time [tricky] since you’ve obtained, like, ten individuals with busy schedules. However it all labored out! It had its challenges however then additionally its advantages, like something in life.
It appears like a no brainer, however will we ever see a Schmigadoon! stage musical?
I might love that! It has been talked about. I have not actually had time to dive into that, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly on my want record.
I might love nothing greater than for there to be a licensed model for prime colleges and faculties to do — and I might attend each manufacturing I may! I really like highschool theatre.
Discuss me by means of your strategy of what goes into writing a really nice parody tune.
First, I strive not to consider it as a parody. I want the phrase pastiche or homage. [I was] taking pictures for the very best stage of that. I attempt to be exhausting on myself, to not go the simple approach out.
Initially of the season, I obtained all of the scores — Sweeney, Chicago, Cabaret, Pippin, Godspell — and I performed by means of all of them on the piano, simply so I had them in my bones. That all the time actually helps.
In order that’s the primary a part of the method. After which finding out the lyrics, too, and people tendencies, you need it to really feel [as though it was] an undiscovered tune by this composer that we hadn’t heard but, as a substitute of a parody.
That is all the time the aim, and possibly we do not all the time accomplish that, however that is what we’re taking pictures for.
Like, “Oh my gosh, that seems like Stephen Sondheim truly wrote that tune!” If anyone says that, I am going to die and go to Heaven! That is the aim!
Please select your favourite little one — er, tune! What’s your favourite tune that you have written for Season 2?
(laughs) By saying little one, you’ve got pinpointed the issue! It is actually exhausting to decide on one.
The one which’s [currently] my favourite is “Over and Accomplished,” the tune Ariana [DeBose] sings within the last episode.
It was type of a daring selection to start out off the episode that approach, nevertheless it’s Ariana DeBose — nobody’s going to have a difficulty with watching her sing for 3 minutes! In order that’s my favourite proper now.
You mentioned you might have concepts for a number of seasons. If there have been to be a season 3, what may we anticipate?
(laughs) Let’s simply focus our constructive vitality on Season 2, after which possibly I will be pressured to reply that query!
Schmigadoon! Season 2 premieres with two episodes on Wednesday, April 5, streaming on Apple TV+. Watch the trailer right here!
This interview has been edited for size/readability.
Mary Littlejohn Mary Littlejohn is a employees author and critic for TV Fanatic. She loves tv, cinema, and theatre (particularly musicals!), significantly when it champions inclusivity, variety, and social justice. Comply with her on Twitter.
