Who knew that a Midwestern girl could take New York by storm during the Roaring ’20s? Broadway is going on tour and will bring an award-winning production to Iowa State Saturday with “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” 2002’s most-awarded new show on Broadway.

The production is directed and choreographed by Joey McNeely and is based on the 1967 Oscar-winning film.

Despite having its roots in cinema, Broadway’s own rendition has won six Tony Awards in 2002, including Best Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume. From there, the production went on the road and developed its own personality.

“We’re kind of a new production based on the new Broadway production,” said Adam Zelasko, who stars as Jimmy Smith, the bachelor who falls in love with the heroine Millie.

“There are songs that were added and that were improved and adapted for the stage, but we definitely carry the name, which is good for people who remember the movie,” he said.

Zelasko said the show is cute and smartly written, and the audience spans a wide range of people.

He said he finds it gratifying to be starring in one of his favorite shows throughout college after idolizing those who were starring in it.

Zelasko, 22, is on his first tour in a musical and was added to the cast in January after the original Jimmy Smith actor left.

So far, the experience has been a positive one.

“It’s interesting – that’s for sure – and it’s definitely an adjustment,” he said.

“You definitely get to know the people that you’re traveling with very well. I hear nightmare stories about terrible road tours, but the one that I’m on is great.”

Zelasko it is a cohesive cast and enjoys being in a different city every other day to have a new audience and theater to play for.

“It makes it really exciting and you get to see the country,” he said.

Although he gets to meet a lot of talented young performers and tour the United States, the road brings many trials for the cast and crew of Millie.

Zelasko said the biggest challenge is adjusting to life on the road.

“You wonder from day to day why it is so much easier one day and why is it so much harder another day, and then you realize you got up at 5 o’clock that morning to get on a bus, travel for 8 hours and then you go onstage.

Different climates have different effects on how you sing and how you feel.” he said

The cast and crew will be traveling until June, with only one short break in May. Despite all of the long hours, it is worth it, Zelasko said.

“The best part of my job is doing the show, and the audience response is part of it – hearing from them that they’re laughing and really enjoying the show,” he said.