Casting has been announced for the Broadway premiere of the new musical Paradise Square, which will play Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre from November 2 to December 5, before beginning previews at New York’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre on February 22, with an opening night set for March 20. Leading the cast are Joaquina Kalukango (Nelly Freeman), Chilina Kennedy (Annie O’Brien), John Dossett (Frederic Tiggens), Sidney DuPont (Washington Henry), A.J. Shively (Owen Duignan), Nathaniel Stampley (Rev. Lewis), Gabrielle McClinton (Angelina baker), Jacob Fishel (Milton Moore), and Kevin Dennis (Lucky Quinlan).
The show is set in New York’s infamous Five Points during the Civil War, where “Irish step dancing joyously competed with Black American Juba.” It is the first Broadway show for producer Garth Drabinsky since serving time for fraud. Drabinsky was sentenced in 2009 to seven years (reduced on appeal to five). He served 17 months in a Canadian prison before being released on parole in 2013. In 2018, the U.S. charges were dismissed, allowing Drabinsky to resume producing on Broadway.
The book is a collaboration of Christina Anderson, Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan, who also collaborated on the music with Jason Howland. Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare provide the lyrics. In addition to its original songs, the score includes interpolations of Stephen Foster, who was living in Five Points at the time. The creative team also includes Moisés Kaufman (direction), Bill T. Jones (choreography), Graciela Daniele (musical staging), Allen Moyer (sets), Toni-Leslie James (costumes), Donald Holder (lights), Jon Weston (sound), Wendall K. Harrington (projections), Gregory Meeh (special effects), and Matthew B. Armentrout (hair).
Below is the trailer from Berkeley Rep’s world premiere production.