Paradise Square is a stage musical, with music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Masi Asare and Nathan Tysen, and a book by Christina Anderson, Larry Kirwan and Craig Lucas. Set in New York City during the Civil War and the New York City draft riots, the musical follows conflict between Irish Americans and Black Americans. The production is directed by Moisés Kaufman and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with intimacy direction by Gaby Labotka. The musical opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on April 3, 2022.

The show received mixed reviews from critics, and earned 10 nominations at the 75th Tony Awards, including Best Musical, with Joaquina Kalukango winning Best Actress.

Hard Times: An American Musical Paradise Square is based on Hard Times: An American Musical, written and conceived by Kirwan, which was originally presented Off-Broadway in September of 2012 at The Cell Theatre as part of Origin Theatre Company's 1st Irish Festival. Directed by Kira Simring, the cast included Jed Peterson as Stephen Foster, Jennifer Lorae as Jane Foster, Almeria Campbell as Nelly Blythe, James Sasser as Michael Jenkins, Stephane Duret as Thomas Jefferson, and John Charles McLaughlin as Owen Duignan. The production was named a "Critic's Pick" by The New York Times.

Production history

Berkeley (2018) The musical premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California on December 27, 2018, for a limited run which was extended to March 3, 2019.

Chicago (2021) It had a pre-Broadway run at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago from November 2 to December 5, 2021. The production opened to mostly positive reviews.

Broadway (2022) The musical began previews at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City on March 15, 2022, prior to an official opening on April 3, 2022. It received mixed reviews and was subsequently closed briefly due to widespread COVID-19 issues amongst the cast and crew.

On July 11, 2022, it was announced the musical would play its final Broadway performance on July 17, due to low ticket sales. After several cast members and stage managers spoke out against the working conditions and unpaid benefits, Actors' Equity announced plans to put producer Garth Drabinsky on the "Do Not Work" list, effectively banning him from producing any future Broadway shows.

An Original Broadway Cast Recording was expected to be released in September 2022, with a national tour in development for the 2023-24 season, and international productions also in the works. However, due to financial and legal dealings with Drabinsky, the album was placed on hold with no date determined for the album release as of January 2023.

Musical numbers Berkeley (2018) Source:

Act I "Premonitions" "Some Folks Do" "Was My Brother in the Battle?" "The Five Points" "Camptown Races" "We Will Keep the Bright Lookout" "Ah, May the Red Rose Live Always" "Nelly Was a Lady" "Oh, Susanna" "Gentle Annie" "I Will Not Die in Springtime" "I'd Be a Soldier" "Someone to Love" "Angelina Baker" "Hard Times Come Again No More"

Act II "We Are Coming, Father Abraham" "Janey with the Light Brown Hair" "I'm Not That Man" "Ring, Ring the Banjo" "I Will Not Die in Springtime” (reprise) "Angelina Baker” (reprise) "Paradise Chorale" "Let It Burn" "Beautiful Dreamer"

Chicago (2021) Source:

Act I "Paradise Square" – Nelly, Annie, Willie, Rev., Ensemble "I'm Coming" – Owen, Washington, Angelina "Camptown Races" – Owen, Washington, Milton "Larry’s Goodbye" – Willie, Nelly "Bright Lookout" – Rev., Dockworkers "True to a Country" – Tiggens, Mike, Ensemble "Oh, Susanna" – Ensemble "Gentle Annie" – Annie, Rev. "Why Should I Die in Springtime?" – Owen, Ensemble "I'd Be a Soldier" – Rev., Washington, Ensemble "Angelina Baker” (part 1) – Washington "Welcome Home" – Nelly, Ensemble

Act II "Angelina Baker” (part 2) – Amelia, Uptown Women "Ring, Ring the Banjo" – Nelly, Annie, Ensemble "Why Should I Die in Springtime? (reprise) – Owen, Ensemble "Angelina Baker” (part 3) – Washington, Ensemble "Someone to Love" – Annie, Nelly "One Match and One Man" – Mike, Tiggens, Ensemble "Breathe Easy" – Angelina, Washington, Ensemble "Hard Times" – Milton, Tiggens, Ensemble "No More" – Ensemble "Let It Burn" – Nelly "Finale" – Ensemble

Broadway (2022) Source:

Act I "Paradise Square" – Nelly, Annie, Willie, Rev., Ensemble "I'm Coming" – Owen, Washington, Angelina, Annie, Rev. "Camptown Races" – Owen, Washington, Milton "Since the Day That I Met You" – Willie, Nelly "Bright Lookout" – Rev., Dockworkers "Tomorrow's Never Guaranteed" – Tiggens, Mike, Ensemble "I'm Coming" (reprise) – Angelina "Turn My Life Around" – Nelly, Ensemble "Gentle Annie" – Annie, Rev. "Why Should I Die in Springtime?" – Owen, Mike, Ensemble "I'd Be a Soldier" – Rev., Washington, Ensemble "Angelina Baker" – Washington "Heaven Save Our Home" – Nelly, Ensemble

Act II "Angelina Baker" (reprise) – Uptown Women "Now or Never" – Nelly, Annie, Ensemble "Why Should I Die in Springtime?" (reprise) – Owen, Ensemble "Always on My Mind" – Washington, Ensemble "Someone to Love" – Annie, Nelly "The Protest" – Mike, Owen, Tiggens, Ensemble "Breathe Easy" – Angelina, Washington, Ensemble "The Riot" – Tiggens, Ensemble "Chorale" – Nelly, Ensemble "Let It Burn" – Nelly "Finale" – Ensemble

Cast and characters Character Berkeley Chicago Broadway201820212022 Nelly O'Brien Christina Sajous Joaquina Kalukango Annie Lewis Madeline Trumble Chilina Kennedy Frederic Tiggens John Dossett Washington Henry Sidney DuPont Owen Duignan A.J. Shively Reverend Samuel Jacob Lewis Daren A. Herbert Nathaniel Stampley Angelina Baker Gabrielle McClinton 'Lucky' Mike Quinlan Kevin Dennis Milton Moore Jacob Fishel Willie O’Brien Brendan Wall Matt Bogart Nova/“Paradise Square” Dancer Chloe Davis Provost Marshal/Daniel Jenkins Ben Michael Sarah/"Paradise Square" Singer Hailee Kaleem Wright Blessed Kayla Pecchioni Amelia Tiggins Erica Spyres Elmer Woods Mark Uhre Colin Cunliffe Notification Officer/Way Station Attendant Josh Davis Janey Foster Kennedy Caughell colspan=2 align=center Camp Butler Bernard Dotson colspan=2 align=center Levi Butler Jacobi Hall colspan=2 align=center Patrick Murphy Chris Whelan colspan=2 align=center

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee Result 2022 Tony Awards Best Musical Best Actress in a Musical Joaquina Kalukango Best Featured Actor in a Musical Sidney DuPont A.J. Shively Best Book of a Musical Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan Best Original Score Jason Howland (music), Marcus Gardley and Nathan Tysen (lyrics) Best Scenic Design of a Musical Allen Moyer Best Costume Design of a Musical Toni-Leslie James Best Lighting Design of a Musical Donald Holder Best Choreography Bill T. Jones Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical Joaquina Kalukango Outstanding Choreography Bill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman, and Jason Oremus, Gelan Lambert and Chloe Davis Outstanding Music Jason Howland Outstanding Wig and Hair Design Matthew B. Armentrout Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Broadway Musical Outstanding Actress in a Musical Joaquina Kalukango Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical A.J. Shively Outstanding Director of a Musical Moisés Kaufman Outstanding Choreography Bill T. Jones, Alex Sanchez, Garrett Coleman, and Jason Oremus Outstanding New Score Jason Howland, Masi Asare and Nathan Tysen Outstanding Orchestrations Jason Howland Chita Rivera AwardsOutstanding Choreography in a Broadway ShowBill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman, Jason OremusOutstanding Ensemble in a Broadway ShowOutstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway ShowSidney DuPontA.J. Shively

References

External links