Photo: Anthony Rapp and Jackie Burns in If/Then at the Academy of Music. Credit: Joan Marcus

This week, I had the pleasure of catching the touring company of If/Then as it settled in Philadelphia for a week at the Academy of Music. What a fun night!

If/Then is an original Broadway musical which reunites composer Tom Kitt, book writer/lyricist Brian Yorkey, and director Michael Greif, the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal.This contemporary new musical follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in the city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. If/Then follows both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance.

I went into If/Then essentially blind. I knew that it had a Sliding Doors-esque concept but that’s all I knew. And that was enough for me. Because we all know I’m down for parallel/alternate realities. I am very happy to report that this did not disappoint. Story wise, I was intrigued and excited to be taken on this journey, two journeys, two roads. It all starts one day in the park when Elizabeth is met with a new friend and an old one and the choice to walk away with one of them. Who does she go with and how does that decision affect the rest of her life? Oh, my, seeing both choices unfold was so, so, so much fun and yes, it is just as compelling as you imagine it will be.

This musical comes from the creators of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Next to Normal which is one of my favorite musicals ever. And I can’t quite pinpoint what it is but they’ve got a very distinct voice and tone about their work and it thrived here just as it did in N2N. The music was strong, the story was strong (even when it was predictable), and I respect this musical even more for the way that it concluded. This could have concluded a number of different ways but there was careful calculation here and I was more than satisfied. Talk about choose your own adventure. Ha!

The tour features Original Broadway Cast Members Jackie Burns (Wicked, Hair) and Anthony Rapp who we all know and love from Rent. Jackie almost mirrors Idina Menzel who originated the role of Elizabeth in If/Then on Broadway and it’s almost distracting but it’s also pleasant because of the level of talent here, on all levels. That said, I’m actually glad that I saw Jackie in this role instead. It felt more fun. I really love Jackie’s comedic timing. Dare I say for this role, it was perfection. Also definitely worth mentioning, I was completely in awe of Jackie’s performance of the musical number, “Always Starting Over.” What a hypnotizing performance. Absolutely fantastic. Even better than the original!

Anthony Rapp plays Lucas, Elizabeth’s college friend whom she reconnects with in the city. There’s not much to say here, you know what you’re getting with Anthony Rapp and he delivers every time. He was just as wonderful as you’d expect him to be.

Matthew Hydzik plays Josh, “a handsome doctor and army reservist who meets Elizabeth on her first day back in New York City.” Matthew, Matthew, Matthew. Well. Isn’t he charming. And what a lovely voice he has! One of the best in the touring company. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that he was my favorite part of the musical when it comes to masculine energy. I’m sure you’d think that I would have said Anthony but I’m so used to him. Matthew was quite a breath of fresh air and I loved it.

Tamyra Gray plays Kate, Elizabeth’s neighbor and new friend (who is an elementary school teacher). I saw Tamyra in Rent years ago and thought that her singing was undeniably wonderful but her acting was… not so great. So when I discovered that Tamyra was going to be in If/Then, I was hoping, very much hoping that her acting had gotten better. I can’t say that it has. However, her voice is still so beautiful and that was indeed a delight to hear. She nailed every number so if you’re a fan of her voice, you’re in for a treat. Aside from this… at times, it was painful to watch her on stage, her acting was so forced most times but if you can try to sink yourself into the heart and spirit of the character that she’s attempting to play, you’ll be fine. It’s asking a lot but it can be done.

Final notable mentions…The comedy in this musical deserves an A+. I loved the diversity of this cast of characters both when it comes to race and sexual orientation (LGB represent!). The sound in the theatre wasn’t as balanced and strong as it could have been and that was slightly disappointing but I can’t remember the last time I said that about a show so all can be forgiven. The stage design and stage direction were absolutely superb. And finally, standout performers include Janine Divita, Marc Delacruz, Kyra Faith, and Deedee Magno Hall. Round of applause to the entire cast and crew for delivering such a solidly entertaining and poignant story. Job well done.

If you want to see this musical, then you’d better get tickets today!

Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center Box Office.

For more information about If/Then, please visit IfThenTheMusical.com.