Paradise Square 2022

Run Time:
Two hours and 40 minutes with one intermission
Ages: 13+
Opened: April 3, 2022
Closing: July 17, 2022

Paradise Square - 2022 - Broadway History , Info & More

Ethel Barrymore Theatre (Broadway)
243 West 47th St. New York, NY

New York City. 1863. The Civil War raged on. An extraordinary thing occurred amid the dangerous streets and crumbling tenement houses of the Five Points, the notorious 19th-century Lower Manhattan slum. Irish immigrants escaping the devastation of the Great Famine settled alongside free-born Black Americans and those who escaped slavery, arriving by means of the Underground Railroad. The Irish, relegated at that time to the lowest rung of America's social status, received a sympathetic welcome from their Black neighbors (who enjoyed only slightly better treatment in the burgeoning industrial-era city). The two communities co-existed, intermarried, raised families, and shared their cultures in this unlikeliest of neighborhoods.

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PREVIEW Paradise Square - 2022 - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Paradise Square

Paradise Square Review: Black and Irish New Yorkers In Love and Dance and Death
4 / 10

There are pleasures in 'Paradise Square.' The terrific dancing tells its own story, a quintessential American (and Broadway) one: How African-American and Irish immigrant dancers learned from one another in New York and created a unique American art form - tap dancing. But 'Paradise Square' was largely a disappointment. By the end of its overlong running time, it felt overcrowded and overbearing; its staging too often of the stand in a line at the lip of the stage and stare school of emoting; its score loud, strident and insistent - well-sung, but not especially memorable and not much integrated with the story; its story of dubious historical accuracy and by-the-numbers plotting.

Review: In ‘Paradise Square,’ Racial Harmony Turns to Discord
4 / 10

In that combination, I feel the meaty hand of the producer Garth H. Drabinsky, who seems to have used his influence to shape “Paradise Square” into a likeness of his previous hits. Like “Ragtime” in 1998 and the 1994 revival of “Show Boat,” it frames social unrest as the product of a few representative individuals and tries to fill the inevitable gaps with big sound and stagecraft. It also borrows a famous plot device from “Show Boat” — which is effective here even if the debt goes otherwise unpaid. But unlike those musicals, which were built on the frames of strongly written novels by authors with singular voices, “Paradise Square” feels almost authorless despite its many contributors, and the direction of Moisés Kaufman, known for a strong hand and conceptual coherence, does little to erase the impression of anonymity. (The design elements are likewise merely efficient.) Contingent and anxious, the show seems more interested in saying the right things than in telling a coherent story.

Garth Drabinsky Added To Canadian Equity's Do Not Work List
by BWW Staff - July 21, 2022


Following Actors' Equity placing Paradise Square producer Garth Drabinsky on their Do Not Work List, Canadian Actors' Equity has announced that they are instructing members not to work for Garth Drabinsky or any company he may be associated with.

Read: PARADISE SQUARE Company Speaks Out Against Garth Drabinsky In Letter to Equity
by BWW Staff - July 14, 2022


Actors' Equity will place Paradise Sqaure producer Garth Drabinsky on the company's Do Not Work list due to 'outstanding payments and benefits, and a continued pattern of abuse and neglect that created an unsafe and toxic work environment.'

Garth Drabinsky Added to Actors' Equity Do Not Work List
by BWW Staff - July 14, 2022


Actors' Equity will place Paradise Square producer Garth Drabinsky on the company's Do Not Work list due to 'outstanding payments and benefits, and a continued pattern of abuse and neglect that created an unsafe and toxic work environment.'

PARADISE SQUARE Will Play Final Broadway Performance
by Team BWW - July 11, 2022


Barring a dramatic upturn in business, the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Paradise Square will conclude its run with the 3:00 pm matinee on Sunday, July 17 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). At the time of closing, the production will have played 23 previews and 108 performances. 

Listen: Hear Joaquina Kalukango's 'Let It Burn' From the PARADISE SQUARE Cast Recording
by Chloe Rabinowitz - June 23, 2022


You can now listen to “Let It Burn,” from the forthcoming Original Broadway Cast Recording of Paradise Square, sung by the show’s remarkable Tony Award winning star, Joaquina Kalukango.

VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Discusses Her PARADISE SQUARE Tony Awards Performance on TODAY
by Michael Major - June 22, 2022


Joaquina Kalukango sat down with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on the TODAY Show this morning to discuss her acclaimed Tony Awards performance for Paradise Square. Kalukango also opened up about how her character of Nelly O'Brien in Paradise Square has helped her through an uncertain period in her life. Watch the new interview now!

VIDEO: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Make First Entrance Since Tony Win
by Nicole Rosky - June 15, 2022


On Tony night, promptly after giving a dazzling performance onstage at Radio City Music Hall, Joaquina Kalukango took home the 2022 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for PARADISE SQUARE. Now watch as she takes the stage at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for the first time since her epic win!

VIDEO: Watch the Cast of PARADISE SQUARE Perform 'Turn My Life Around'
by Show Highlights - June 1, 2022


Paradise Square, which has been nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, has released an excerpt featuring Tony Award nominee Bill T. Jones’ exhilarating choreography for the show-stopping “Turn My Life Around.” 

PARADISE SQUARE Cast Members to Join BROADWAY SESSIONS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 13, 2022


Broadway Sessions, the beloved long running musical theatre variety show will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre this coming Thursday evening, May 19th.

VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Discusses Being Grateful to Be Back on Stage in PARADISE SQUARE Post-Show Speech
by Stephi Wild - April 20, 2022


Paradise Square officially resumed performances last night, April 19, after briefly going dark due to COVID cases within the cast. Joaquina Kalukango gave a speech after last night's performance, where she talked about being grateful to be back on stage.

PARADISE SQUARE Will Release An Original Broadway Cast Recording This Spring
by Stephi Wild - April 18, 2022


The new Broadway musical Paradise Square will produce an original Broadway cast recording, The cast and Broadway orchestra are gathering at Power Station at BerkleeNYC for four days of sessions. Get the school on the album's release. 

PARADISE SQUARE Will Now Resume Performances On Tuesday, April 19
by Stephi Wild - April 13, 2022


The new Broadway musical Paradise Square will now resume performances on Tuesday, April 19 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street), rather than Saturday, April 16 as previously announced. The change is due to additional COVID cases within the company.

PARADISE SQUARE to Resume Performances on April 16th
by Marissa Tomeo - April 11, 2022


After previously announcing that performances would resume on Tuesday, April 12, the original new Broadway musical Paradise Square will definitely resume performances on Saturday, April 16, with performances at 2:00 and 8:00 pm at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). The production, which opened April 3, halted performances on Thursday, April 7 after positive COVID cases were experienced in the company.

PARADISE SQUARE Cancels Performances Through April 10
by Nicole Rosky - April 8, 2022


'In accordance with Broadway COVID protocols established by the industry, the producers of Paradise Square have cancelled performances tonight, Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10. The production is expected to resume performances on Tuesday, April 12 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The producers apologize for any inconvenience to our loyal customers.'

PARADISE SQUARE Canceled Tonight Due to Covid-19
by A.A. Cristi - April 7, 2022


Tonight's performance of the new musical Paradise Square has been canceled due to positive Covid-19 tests with in the company.

Photos: PARADISE SQUARE Company Takes Opening Night Bows
by Bruce Glikas - April 4, 2022


Paradise Square opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre last night, Sunday, April 3rd. Prior to the curtain rising, New York City Mayor Eric Adams made opening remarks onstage. Check out photos from his speech and from the opening night curtain call.

Photos: On the Red Carpet for Opening Night of PARADISE SQUARE
by Bruce Glikas - April 4, 2022


Paradise Square opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre last night, Sunday, April 3rd. BroadwayWorld was there on the red carpet and you can check out photos from the big night!

VIDEO: On the Opening Night Red Carpet For PARADISE SQUARE
by Red Carpet - April 4, 2022


Paradise Square opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre last night, Sunday, April 3rd. BroadwayWorld was there on the red carpet, where our own Richard Ridge chatted with attendees.

VIDEO: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Gives Pre-Show Speech at PARADISE SQUARE
by Stephi Wild - April 4, 2022


Paradise Square opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre last night, Sunday, April 3rd. Prior to the curtain rising, New York City Mayor Eric Adams made opening remarks onstage.

VIDEO: Watch the Opening Night Curtain Call at PARADISE SQUARE
by Marissa Tomeo - April 3, 2022


Broadway's Paradise Square opened tonight, Sunday, April 3rd, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

Review Roundup: PARADISE SQUARE Opens on Broadway
by Marissa Tomeo - April 3, 2022


New York City. 1863. The Civil War raged on. An extraordinary thing occurred amid the dangerous streets and crumbling tenement houses of the Five Points, the notorious 19th-century Lower Manhattan slum. For many years, Irish immigrants escaping the devastation of the Great Famine settled alongside free-born Black Americans and those who escaped slavery, arriving by means of the Underground Railroad. The Irish, relegated at that time to the lowest rung of America's social status, received a sympathetic welcome from their Black neighbors (who enjoyed only slightly better treatment in the burgeoning industrial-era city). The two communities co-existed, intermarried, raised families, and shared their cultures in this unlikeliest of neighborhoods.

VIDEO: A.J. Shively Opens Up About His New Broadway Role in PARADISE SQUARE
by Nicole Rosky - March 30, 2022


Paradise Square is currently in previews at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it is getting ready to open on Sunday, April 3. A.J. Shively, who plays Irish immigrant Owen Duignan in the new musical, just checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge ahead of the big night.

Paradise Square FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Paradise Square have there been?
Paradise Square has had 3 productions including San Francisco (Regional) which opened in 2019, San Francisco (Regional) which opened in 2019 and Broadway which opened in 2022.
What Tony Awards has Paradise Square been nominated for?
Paradise Square has been nominated for the following Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Christina Anderson, Best Choreography for Bill T. Jones, Best Costume Design of a Musical for Toni-Leslie James, Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Donald Holder, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Jason Howland, and Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Allen Moyer.
What awards has Paradise Square been nominated for?
Paradise Square has been nominated for several prestigious awards, including Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for Bill T. Jones, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Jason Howland, Outstanding Wig and Hair (Drama Desk Awards) for Matthew B. Armentrout, Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Joaquina Kalukango, Outstanding Choreography (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Bill T. Jones, Alex Sanchez, Garrett Coleman, and Jason Oremus, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Moisés Kaufman, Outstanding New Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Paradise Square, Outstanding Orchestrations (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jason Howland, and Outstanding Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jason Howland.

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