Paradise Square
Opening the Nederlander theatre this winter!
Paradise Square
Discover a pivotal moment in our history with this brand new musical
Paradise Square
Opening the Nederlander theatre this winter!
Why see Paradise Square?
Pre Broadway premiere
The Nederlander Theatre re-opens this winter with the Chicago premiere of this galvanizing new musical that examines a true story from the history of racial division in this country. Set in New York in 1863, welcome to Paradise Square, a rambunctious local tavern in the Five Points neighborhood where the clientele is made up of Free Blacks and newly arrived Irish Immigrants. United by both groups' outsider status in the city, harmony exists, with a shared culture emerging against the tumult of the encroaching Civil War.
With a score inspired by 19th-century music and choreography that weaves between traditional Irish step-dancing and African Juba dancing, Paradise Square is set to be a timely and dynamic production that asks us all what it really means to be an American.
Cast
Joaquina Kalukango
Chilina Kennedy
John Dossett
Sidney DuPont
A.J. Shively
Nathaniel Stampley
Gabrielle McClinton
Jacob Fishel
Kevin Dennis
Creative
Book by Christina Anderson, Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan.
Music and lyrics by Jason Howland, Nathan Tyson and Masi Asare
Direction is by Moises Kaufman
Choreography by Bill T. Jones
Reviews
Customer reviews
18 reviews, average rating: (3.2 Stars)
Cheryl
GO SEE THIS OUTSTANDING MUSICAL!!!!
Saw this the day after Thanksgiving and so glad we chose to see this and not listen to some of the reviews. Bring your COVID vaccination card. My husband didn’t have his and was not let in. This show seriously blew me and my daughter away. The voices are powerful, so powerful that I literally jumped out of my chair before Let it Burn was finished to applaud, a few of us did then the whole theater followed. The dancing will captivate you the entire time! Anyone that said this musical dragged on must have a very low attention span. The story and characters are extremely interesting and not once did this musical seem slow to us. My daughter and I agreed this was one of the best musicals we have seen and we have seen many. We both agreed we would see it again and told my husband after he missed a great one! ... Read more
Li Wright
The music is great
Just came from the show and the music was lively and really told the story well. However, I didn't feel the choreography was THAT great and I know Bill Jones is the choreographer. But some of the dancing seemed to repeat itself over and over. The lead actress, Joaquina) has the perfect Broadway voice. Big and robust. The set decorations weren't spectacular, maybe so as to not overwhelm the story.
At times I think they spent too much time on the runaway slave's story. It seemed to detract from the other stories.
Overall, when it came to an end, everything seemed to wrap up nicely. ... Read more
AP Cook
Great Show
I truly don't understand the bad reviews of this show. There were so many great characters, great songs, and choreography. I was never bored, and it was great to see a play that digs into part of the darker elements of U.S. history. The Riots tore apart this black community, causing thousands to flee. It provides a timely response to the ever present, but my Irish Ancestors were discriminated against too. A great story can be one that educates and entertains. This did both! My only criticism was some of the choreography. I agree that at times it was repetitive. But to see tap, ballet, Irish, African, and African American styles all on one stage? That was something. ... Read more
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