‘Paradise Square’ gets Broadway transfer at Barrymore Theatre

The musical will run for five weeks in Chicago ahead of its Broadway premiere.

Following a 2018 world premiere and an upcoming engagement in Chicago, Paradise Square will receive its Broadway premiere in 2022. Paradise Square will begin previews at the Barrymore Theatre on Feb. 22, 2022, ahead of an opening night on Mar. 20, 2022. Find out more about Paradise Square on Broadway here.

Set in 19th-century New York, African Americans and Irish Americans live side by side,, eventually finding harmony with one another. After a brief period of co-existing, communities danced together; Irish step dancing and Black American Juba took to the floor. But when President Lincoln calls the first Federal Draft, will friendships in the Five Points prevail?

Joaquina Kalukango will play Nelly Freeman, currently nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Slave Play. Casting includes Chilina Kennedy, John Dossett, Sidney DuPont, A.J. Shively, Nathaniel Stampley, Gabrielle McClinton, Jacob Fishel and Kevin Dennis, Karen Burthwright, Kennedy Caughell, Dwayne Clark, Garrett Coleman, Colin Cunliffe, Chloe Davis, Bernard Dotson, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Sam Edgerly, Shiloh Goodin, Jacobi Hall, Sean Jenness, Jay McKenzie, Ben Michael, Jason Oremus, Eilis Quinn, Sara Sheperd, Lael van Keuren, Sir Brock Warren and Hailee Kaleem Wright. Additional casting is to be announced.

Paradise Square features an original book by Christina Anderson, Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan. Music and lyrics are by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, as well as inspiration from Stephen Foster, who lived in Five Points during the 19th century.

Direction is by Moisés Kaufman, who is also directing Seven Deadly Sins this summer. Choreography is by Bill T. Jones with scenic design by Allen Moyer, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Donald Holder, and sound design by Jon Weston.

Paradise Square made its world premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in January 2019. Later this year, Paradise Square is at Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre for five weeks, ahead of its Broadway run.

Paradise Square is at the Barrymore Theatre from February 22.

Find out more about what's playing on Broadway and how to get theatre tickets in New York. 

^{Photo credit: Paradise Square (Photo by Kevin Berne)}