Paradise Square will record an original Broadway cast recording during the final two weeks of April. The album will receive a digital release in May, followed by a physical release over the summer.
The recording will be produced by Grammy winners Jason Howland and Billy Jay Stein, known for their collaboration on Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Garth H. Drabinsky will executive produce, with Craig Haffner, Sherry Wright, and Jeffrey A. Sine as co-executive producers.
The work was conceived by Black 47 frontman Larry Kirwan. Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas, and Kirwan penned the musical's book to a score with music by Howland, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare, and additional music by Kirwan. Paradise Square has had a rocky welcome to the Broadway stage. First opening April 3, the show went on hiatus April 7 due to positive COVID cases in the company. It is set to resume performances April 19 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
READ: Paradise Square Cancels Performances Through April 17
Directed by Moisés Kaufman and choreographed by Tony winner Bill T. Jones, the work takes place during the Civil War and follows a group of Irish immigrants and Black Americans fighting for a similar cause. It features a 40-member cast led by Tony nominee Joaquina Kalukango, Chilina Kennedy, Tony nominee John Dossett, Matt Bogart, Kevin Dennis, Nathaniel Stampley, A.J. Shively, Sidney DuPont, Gabrielle McClinton, and Jacob Fishel.
The show features staging by Alex Sanchez; music supervision, direction, and orchestrations by Howland; scenic design by Allen Moyer; costume design by Toni-Leslie James; lighting design by Donald Holder; sound design by Jon Weston; projection design by Wendall K. Harrington and Shawn Edward Boyle; special effects by Gregory Meeh; hair and wig design by Matthew B. Armentrout, arrangements by Howland and Kirwan; dramaturgy by Thulani Davis and Sydné Mahone; and Irish and Hammerstep choreography by Garrett Coleman and Jason Oremus. Karyn Meek is production stage manager.