The cast of the Broadway-bound Paradise Square.’ (Photo: Kevin Berne)
Paradise Square has announced new preview and opening dates for Broadway as a precaution due to the spike in positive COVID-19 cases from the omicron variant. The new musical, which played a critically acclaimed pre-Broadway engagement that was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as one of the year’s best shows, will now start previews on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, and open Sunday, April 3, 2022, at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street).
“During Christmas week, when there were over 560,000 positive daily cases in the US, over 70,000 positive daily cases in NYC and scientists suggested that the virus had yet to peak, we grew deeply concerned for the ongoing safety of our cast, crew and creative team, who were scheduled to begin Broadway rehearsals this month,” commented producer Garth H. Drabinsky. “We hope that a later start date for rehearsals and performances after the current wave is predicted to subside will better protect our company, audience and theatre community.”
Chris Jones for the Chicago Tribune wrote of its initial Windy City run, “The show has a star turn from Joaquina Kalukango that will be formidable competition for anyone and everyone come Tony Awards time.” But the critic also points out some revisions needed for the production to reach its full potential. “Much work has yet to be done. But it will be a worthy task. And, let us note, to pull a project of this scope and scale together at all in this incredibly challenging COVID-19 era must have been a herculean task. So stipulated. Onward.”
Tickets are on sale for Paradise Square on Broadway at Telecharge.com. For refunds or exchanges for canceled performances between February 22-March 13, please return to point of purchase.
