Paradise Square (musical)

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.^[1] The musical opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on April 3, 2022.

Paradise Square
Broadway promotional poster
Music	Jason Howland
Lyrics	Masi Asare Nathan Tysen
Book	Christina Anderson Larry Kirwan Craig Lucas
Basis	Hard Times by Larry Kirwan
Premiere	January 10, 2019 (2019-01-10): Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Productions	2012 Off Off Broadway 2019 Berkeley 2021 Chicago 2022 Broadway

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.^[2]

Background

The musical is based on Hard Times, conceived by Kirwan, which was originally presented Off Off Broadway in 2012 at Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre, under the direction of Kira Simring.

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.^[3]

Chicago (2021)

It had a pre-Broadway run at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago from November 2 to December 5, 2021.^[4] The production opened to mostly positive reviews.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

An Original Broadway Cast Recording was expected to be released in September 2022, with a national tour currently 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 is currently on hold with no date determined for the album release at this time.^[9]

Musical numbers

Berkeley (2018)^[10]

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)^[11]

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)^[12]

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[10]	Chicago[11]	Broadway[13]
	2018	2021	2022
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	—
Camp Butler	Bernard Dotson	—
Levi Butler	Jacobi Hall	—
Patrick Murphy	Chris Whelan	—

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2022	Tony Awards[14][15]	Best Musical		Nominated
		Best Actress in a Musical	Joaquina Kalukango	Won
		Best Featured Actor in a Musical	Sidney DuPont	Nominated
			A.J. Shively	Nominated
		Best Book of a Musical	Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan	Nominated
		Best Original Score	Jason Howland (music), Marcus Gardley and Nathan Tysen (lyrics)	Nominated
		Best Scenic Design of a Musical	Allen Moyer	Nominated
		Best Costume Design of a Musical	Toni-Leslie James	Nominated
		Best Lighting Design of a Musical	Donald Holder	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Bill T. Jones	Nominated
	Drama Desk Awards[16]
		Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Joaquina Kalukango	Won
		Outstanding Choreography	Bill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman, and Jason Oremus, Gelan Lambert and Chloe Davis	Won
		Outstanding Music	Jason Howland	Nominated
		Outstanding Wig and Hair Design	Matthew B. Armentrout	Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Awards[17]	Outstanding New Broadway Musical		Nominated
		Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Joaquina Kalukango	Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	A.J. Shively	Nominated
		Outstanding Director of a Musical	Moisés Kaufman	Nominated
		Outstanding Choreography	Bill T. Jones, Alex Sanchez, Garrett Coleman, and Jason Oremus	Nominated
		Outstanding Score	Jason Howland, Masi Asare and Nathan Tysen	Nominated
		Outstanding Orchestrations	Jason Howland	Won
	Chita Rivera Awards[18]	Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show	Bill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman, Jason Oremus	Won
		Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show		Nominated
		Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show	Sidney DuPont	Nominated
			AJ Shively	Nominated