The show is a masterpiece. If you saw it, you would be hurt that the artists who created and contributed to its fruition would suffer such a fate. Being an ardent theater goer for nearly 3 decades, I must tell you that the last performance was the most electric, most powerful, deeply moving and memorable show that I have ever witnessed. There was not a dry eye in the house. The standing ovations were spontaneous and thunderous. The actors gave everything they’ve got. There is an audio recording of Joaquina’s Let it Burn on that final performance posted on TH-cam. You should listen to it. She was on fire and the applause was very long and deafening. She and the entire cast stood proudly and cried.
This show is the most amazing show I have seen in years. I was also at the final show and I am so proud of that company! They grabbed our hearts and gave us the best show.
I hadn't really even heard of it until the Tony's and even my heart hurts for them! Thanks for advocating for how good it is (both you and MickeyJo), and I'm headed over to find her performance right after I hit send.
Agreed the show is a masterpiece. I say it in June, just after Tony’s. Was in nyc for the Tony’s and saw Joaquín’s performance live and then rushed to see the show that week. Was hoping to get to see it again but tragically that is not going to happen in the next while. Hope they release the soundtrack and the show gets another life down the track - so heartbreaking that a show this amazing, with such masterful performances had to close so early, and more tragic the cast and crew were treated so unfairly. Glad you were able to see the last performance.
I LOVED Paradise Square, saw it six times. I HATE how all of these kind, talented, and passionate people have been snubbed in so many ways. At least at closing I was able to make some of the cast smile with my F*** GARTH sign I made at the stage door
Never underestimate the number of chances that rich white men will be given to ‘show they’ve changed’ or ‘make amends’ and at no point have they shown any desire to change or make amends.
My wife and I saw the show at the end of April, and it's quite a special masterpiece. I also acknowledge some bias because I am one of the high school instructors Joaquina spoke of in her Tony acceptance speech. Her success and recognition for her work in this show was personal for so many people in the Atlanta and Georgia artistic community!! It really hurts my heart and angers me to know that all of that incredibly talented cast had to deal with so much garbage from an outright crook! 😠
I had the chance to see Paradise Square a few weeks ago and thought it was a beautiful story about solidarity and community. It's a bummer that all it'll be remembered for is legal issues and an evil producer.
THANK YOU!!! I feel like this story is going under the radar with the Funny Girl drama, and this is the real drama. The actors and crew really deserve justice. From everything I’ve heard, there’s a good musical in there that deserves a platform, but the drama around it is taking its limelight.
Allow me to express some naivete. I am on the younger side of the theatre community and arguably the demographic that hamilton was for - and as I have been through the highs and lows of the love for hamilton , I have to say that paradise square is what I wish hamilton was. My dream is to be a drummer who plays in pits one day but I also have an IMMENSE love for dance - any decent drummer should know the history of how drumming came to be. Through the slave trade, to be exact. It was the expression of dance that created drumming. And obviously the talents of tap and hamboning grew and now it is a strong part of rhythm and beating that happens in hip hop dances , and paradise square so eloquently recognized this. It was a love letter to african dance and how it developed. But more importantly, it was black actors on a stage being able to tell REAL BLACK STORIES. Yes, we love hamilton, but for the masses to have such a way of not being able to separate the fact that black people have a history in America that should be told and can only compare it to POC having to portray a white mans story is such an understatment. And to be honest, I live in Chi town and saw it in previews and was able to see it in New York, and I never felt that it was even advertised as “the next hamilton”, I always felt it was “this is the next best classic.” Paradise Square just finally did everything right for once in theatre. Maybe not with an evil producer, but the cast was phenomenal and THE PIT WAS THE MOST DIVERSE I HAVE EVER SEEN IT, for both race and gender, it truly let me know that I have a place im the industry, and to just see a show that struck with me so well and explained all of the things that I actually like about America and our perserverance, to just close because they werent getting paid is beyond upsetting.
I had a few questions/suggestions for you if you don’t mind: 1) Have you seen the movie 1776? It’s sort of a prequel to Hamilton. It has what is considered one of the best books in Broadway history, with fun, and occasionally powerful songs. Highly recommend the early 70s movie! It’s not a black show, but there are a number of those I’m curious if you’ve see or heard. 2) House of Flowers (1954) starring Pearl Bailey and young ingenue Dianne Carol. Pearl handles the sassy comedy songs, and Dianne gets three stunners: A Sleepin Bee, I Never Has Seen Snow, and Gonna Leave Off Wearin’ My Shoes. The book and lyrics are by gay author Truman Capote, and the music by Harold Arlen, who wrote the music for the 1939 movie musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’! The story is about two rival brothels or ‘houses’ on a Caribbean island, Pearl runs the house of ‘flowers’ as each of her young ladies is named after a flower such as Pansy, etc. The critics sadly considered this too risqué at the time and it only lasted 84 (glorious!) performances. It is available on CD, highly recommended. 3) Purlie is the musical version of the stage play Purlie Victorious, and Melba Moore gets to blow everyone away with the showstopper‘I got love’. The show is set during the era of the Jim Crow south. The CD is magnificent, and it was also filmed for PBS, so that may be here on youtube. 4) The Wiz - the black version of the Wizard of Oz, done just after the book entered the public domain. So there are certain things in the movie they couldn’t legally use, like the Ruby Slippers and the snowstorm stopping the poppies. The movie is good but not perfect. Mabel King tears it up as the Wicked Witch in her song ‘Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News!’
"Paradise Square just finally did everything right for once in theatre." Every show has a problem in it but great music, a compelling book, ingenious choreography, and brilliant lyrics make a show a classic."Paradise Square" did not have the brilliant choreography of "West Side Story" or "Chicago"; nor the score of thirty musicals I could mention, or a single song that will become listed as among the best ever written. How, then, did it do everything right?
@@andredarin8966 First of all, RLucas3000 started with "allow me to express some naiveté," because they're young, so your demands that they contrast and compare to other musicals they couldn't possibly have seen is ridiculous. Regardless, RLucas showed more insight than you did: they're talking about the musical doing everything right WITH REGARD TO showing Black stories with Black performers, rather than Hamilton that is showing White stories with POC actors. That was CLEAR from their explanation, so you should work on your reading comprehension. RL is speaking from THEIR perspective on the world, not yours. News flash: there are other people in the world with other perspectives than yours. And they are allowed to have those perspectives and opinions; I wish more people like them would express them, which they won't when they get attacked like you just did. I wish more people like you would LISTEN to what they're saying and work on understanding it instead of batting it back in their face with demands for IRRELEVANT answers. Black people on a stage telling Black stories. That was doing everything right. Not the choreography from West Side Story. Not the lyrics from Pajama Game. I thought the poster RLucas3000 showed great insight and you missed it due to some other agenda you've got going. RLucas3000: Keep speaking up, you're doing a great job.
Hey :) @ataata I'm a professional pit player based in Seattle. I don't know your specifics based on your post, but I'm able to gather that you are a drummer/percussionist that is not white, not male, or both. If you are queer or female identifying, you should check out Maestra and if you are of the global majority you should check out MUSE. Both of these orgs are elevating poc and queer/femme musicians in the theatre world. I know that at least one member of the Paradise pit is Maestra. Both orgs are doing some great work and include things like mentorship opportunities. That might be up your alley given your professional ambitions :)
It's weird that they were liken it to Hamilton because it did not feel that way when I saw it in Chicago. While I loved it, the staging and songs felt way more traditional than Hamilton. They even included traditional songs from that time period. And I really liked how it treated the struggles that Irish immigrants and black Americans faced with equal amounts of respect. I'm bummed that the producer was such a horrible boss that this is most likely the end of the line for the show.
I saw Paradise Square the Saturday before it closed (matinee) and I loved it!! I thought that it told a story that was lost in the history books. The cast was phenomenal!! Their singing, dancing, and acting was top notch. I hope that there is a national tour because I would love to be able to see this show again. I hope that it will happen and that the cast album sees the light of day! Also I got my playbill signed by Joaquina and she is honestly so nice!!
Multiple news sources have confirmed a tour is planned for 2023/2024. Let’s hope that happens and let’s hope this drama is resolved before the tour begins.
@@TerronSingletary I read about a tour on Wikipedia which I know isn’t the best source. Hopefully the tour happens and the drama does destroy it before it happens
@@TerronSingletary yes, but...Garth has the rights as of now. He's the one who said there will be a tour. That will be very difficult to do if none of the unions will work with him.
Mickey Jo.... That cast recording will never see the light of day. It was supposed to be released in May and wasn't because no one involved was paid including the studio. They don't have the money to pay to get it.
Thanks for the Canadian shout-out, even though under dubious circumstances. It was really fun to go to Toronto in the 90s and see all of those huge musicals. Beautiful theatres were built and renovated. Drabinski did a lot of this, but so did Mirvish productions, who are still there doing great work. I did wonder why Colm and Rebecca weren't there when we flew up to see Phantom. Turns out it was a week after the incident. I did see Garth at the Pantages that night.
I was very surprised by the mostly negative reviews. I really enjoyed the show and thought the cast was wonderful. The financial mismanagement of the show is unconscionable.
I agree this show was a masterpiece. The most gorgeous music, the most inspired choreography, wonderful staging and the most talented people you'll ever see on a Broadway stage, every single one of them. I saw it four times, and it broke my heart when it closed. The audience always went nuts when it was over, standing, yelling, clapping. I could never understand why everybody in New York was not talking about this show. Seeing it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It's also worth mentioning that a lot of the shows Drabinsky produced on Broadway, wound up finding new life when they released the rights for regional productions (regional houses, schools, community theatre, etc.)
Saw that show in nyc and it was great. So sad to hear it close and how the cast and creatives were treated unfairly. I am hoping they still release the cast recording.
Garth Drabinsky??? I thought he was living in a tunnel beneath the Meridian Arts Centre! (This is a deep Toronto theatre nerd cut, but I had to make it.) Great video, and seriously, we need a full Drabinsky doc!!
I saw it a few weeks ago. It goes without saying that Joaquina Kalukango is amazing. The choreo is fantastic. The set is very good. The score is ok and the book a muddle IMHO. I'd liken it more to Ragtime (which I love) than Hamilton. Unlike Ragtime they take what seemed like 45 minutes to establish the characters. The night I saw it, a Thursday eve. in mid June, the theater was about half full. Not the best new play of the season but far from the worst.
I didn't see the show on Broadway, but I saw its pre-Broadway run in Chicago, and you could tell then that this was a production in trouble. With a few exceptions -- "Let It Burn," and especially Joaquina Kalukango's performance -- the music is not memorable. The book is a jumbled mess, trying to tell too many stories, with the result that it succeeds in none. The main story revolves around the patrons of a bar run by Kalukango's character that caters to both a black and white clientele, and it they had stopped there, it would have been fine. But it's told against the backdrop of the Five Points riots -- basically, the plot of the movie Gangs of New York -- and nobody cares about that. It's historically interesting, but there's no "heart" to that story. There's also a subplot about composer Stephen Foster that, WTF? The Stephen Foster story base the basis of the original script many years ago, but it adds nothing to this telling. As they say, in writing you have to kill your darlings. The book has FOUR writers, which is usually a sign of trouble. I imagine a director/producer like Hal Prince could have found a way to make this work, but Garth Drabinsky isn't that producer, and director Moises Kaufman brings little to the project. The show is almost saved by the stunning choreography of Bill T. Jones -- truly the highlight of he show -- but you have to muddle through a lot of nonsense to get to that. I'll be interested in your response to the score, if you hear it. The West End won't miss it.
Completely in disagreement. As a historical piece similar to Les Miz, I appreciated the many different character and cultural stories. Although more of a traditional musical, the score has more memorable songs than Hamilton plus much more dynamic choreography. The Stephen Foster subplot was a marginal component that was interesting but not detracting. And to say nobody cares about the Five Points riots is just racist. I learned a a lot about this historical event, as I did when seeing Hamilton, and found it very relevant for issues still facing America today.
I saw this show in November in Chicago before it opened in New York, and despite the immensely talented and diverse cast, it was overall pretty flat. The singing and dancing chops of the cast didn't make up for the poor pacing and character development. I was shocked when it opened on Broadway without being further workshopped because there were a bunch of holes, and it was pretty bland with the same character traits being driven home over and over without any real depth to the characters. It's a shame because it could have been great, but it was just too jumbled. Paradise Square tried to tell too many stories (including one about Stephen Foster for some reason) and didn't tell any of them successfully
My friend Sidney was in Paradise Square. I am so sad I did not get to see it before it closed & feel bad for all the cast for all the drama they had to deal with behind the scenes.😓
I got to see the show shortly before it closed and was so sad but the negative press it was getting leading up to the closing. What was going on with mismanagement, not being paid and all the finances is awful. The show itself while not completely factual was very enjoyable. I hope that the cast and crew get the wages they deserve and are able to move forward.
Okay I saw opening night of paradise square Pre-broadway. This show was first created and showed at berekly-rep, I was going to a private middleschool at the time and we went on a field trip to see this show since it was local and they had cheaper tickets for whole classes. When I tell you that this show is a actual masterpeice I mean it. I have seen phantom of the opera, les mis, singing in the rain, the addams, anything goes, hamilton, school, of rock, wicked, book of mormon, waitress, and more and more and more broadway shows in sanfransisco and LA. I remember going to this show not expecting much because it's just berekly-rep, not broadway, i thought it would be some community theatre project. After I saw the opening night for the first time, me and my entire family went back to see this show 3 time after, we wouldve gone more if we had the money. We cried our asses off every single night. This show was made by people who genuinly give af about what they were making/working on and it showed. I could not crituqe on thing about this show. It was beautiful all the way through and we'd leave the theatre speechless every single time. This performance honestly was more touching than any other I had ever ever seen, including all of the ones i mentioned previously and more. Its devastating what happened and how it's gone down hill since. I just am posting this because I don't want people to take this show for granted if it ever comes back. This show has so so so much potential and can be something truly amazing but only if it's done right. It's heartbreaking that it was made right before covid hit, I wonder what it couldve become if covid didn't happen. I honestly believe that this show couldve been the biggest hit in twenty or more years if the circumstances were right.
Loved the show!!! I got to see the show during a matinee with several understudies who performed absolutely phenomenally. The staging (set), large cast (over 30+), music score, performances, and dance numbers, and satisfying length of the show (unlike Six which was about 80+ minutes) were everything one who enjoys theatre would want. I would compare it more to a Les Miserable'esque show rather than that of a Hamilton'esque show. I am so sad to hear this news. I sure hope the rights to the show are transferred and it can be reproduced. Great theatre. I was also lucky enough to see Ben Vereen in the audience (apparently his third visit to the show).
I saw this show in May. It is probably the single most moving thing I have ever had the honor to see. I was in the second row dead center and could see all the emotions and joy these artists felt as they performed. The contrast between the Irish dancers and the black/possibly former slave dancers was thrilling as they seemed to leap 6 feet off the floor. I could see the tears run down Joaquina Kalukango’s face as she took in the endless standing ovation after “Let it Burn.” Another must see on TH-cam song “Breathe Easy,” is a moving song featuring the run away slave characters and will bring you to tears as they sing about getting closer to freedom but the audience knows that African Americans still haven’t fully seen freedom and still “need eyes in back of their head” to survive racism. I hope the designers win the rights. Perhaps then the soundtrack will be released.
The show is absolutely beautiful. This is such a shame for all of the talented artists involved. Looking forward to the cast recording as well. Please do react to it.
I just saw Paradise Square on Broadway last week! I had no idea this was going on. I absolutely loved this musical! Such a great story and what a shame this happened to the production. Seeing the packed house, you would have not known the theater was not able to sell seats.
It’s midnight in Canada🇨🇦 and I’ve just discovered your channel I’m enjoying your videos so much,I can’t close my iPad. Your comments are funny, yet very professional. I’m now a big fan and have subscribed. I hope you can stay cool.
One of the oddest things about the show that points to something wrong in the production is the fact that the cast recording was supposed to come out late may/june...... and it still hasn't come out, despite the fact that they've already recorded it (obviously not as bad as the unpaid wages, but really strange)
Oh no...it's just as bad. The album hasn't been released because no one who was involved in making it has been paid. That includes the studio. As such, the studio won't release the recordings (obviously). At this point, it will likely never see the light of day because even if they could somehow find the money to get it released...I don't think they legally can now because all of the actors involved are equity and Garth is now on the "do not work" list.
@@carr0760 oof that's not surprising considering *everything* but tbh that makes me really sad bc it's exactly the type of show I love and I was looking forward to the cast recording (and obviously bad for the cast and crew that worked so hard)
@@margaretrousseau3783 my friend is in the show but I was unable to travel to go see it. I really wanted that album! It was the only thing I would have had access to.
@@TerronSingletary That's what Garth is saying, but he's also denying all of the allegations against him, so....first hand information from the cast is that it won't be released.
Thanks for this video. I have read a lot about the legal drama. It is always fun to hear your ideas! I have been a fan of Chilina Kennedy for some time so when I went to see some Broadway Shows in April, I saw Paradise Square. I really enjoyed it. The story was very interesting especially since it was based on history. The dancing was phenomenal and of course Let It Burn by Joaquina was an experience I will never forget! I have heard it will be touring but maybe not until the legal issues are settled. I would definitely see it again.
I just want to say again how erudite and well spoken you are. It is a pleasure to listen to you speak on any topic really. I especially like how you manage to give your opinion without offending anyone; how do you do that? I can't do it. I think it's because you set up the logic so well that it is clear why you have that opinion, but then you always back it up with, "If this is important to you and you like this show I don't want to take that away from you," or whatever the subject is. Just .... well done on your youtube channel. Very well done.
I loved that show. I have a friend that lives in NYC that had seen it 12 times. It saddens me to think others might not see it. Historically it tells an amazing story. The lyrics and music are wonderful as well. I see the soundtrack isn't out yet. I plan to buy it. I pray somehow it rises out of the ashes to be produced again. Everyone should see this show. Would love to hear an update regarding it. Thanks for the inside scoop!
I got to see Paradise Square this spring. The show had some weak spots that could have been better, but it was over all a really great show with some amazing talent. It is horrible that this will be the show's legacy.
Paradise Square hands down the BEST musical I’ve ever seen. Yes better than Hamilton. The show did not do well mainly because of Garth. What made this production incredible was not only the music and story but the Incredibly talented and passionate cast. Love was evident on that stage and Love should prevail. I hope and pray that it is produced once again. The world needs more shows like Paradise Square!!!!
The americans are not laughing at that temperature, we're very confused because we don't know how to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit in our heads and 38 degrees sounds cold. :P
There is actually a rather fabulous documentary called "Showstopper" that details Drabinsky's rise and fall. I echo all the sentiments expressed here. I found PS to be a truly terrific show and am devastated by what the company and crew had been forced to endure.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for clear summary of the situation. Just read up more on this thanks to the Playbill article released....incl a crew member whos lil finger was amputated due to a rehearsal injury Oh and as for the heat.....38 is standard in Aus for summer Oh and Cosette and JVJ.....Sierra Boggess did Phantom opposite her Little Mermaid daddy, Norm Lewis as the Phantom
Got to see it last spring and was most disappointed with the story/script. I think everyone on stage did an incredible job with what they were given (dancing/singing/acting was amazing, costumes/hair gorgeous, sets were interesting), but the script/lyrics need to be workshopped more. It was too on the nose for me looking at today’s xenophobic political climate in the states so it felt heavy handed there. Like I said, the company was amazing, but overall was not blown away. Except by Joaquina.
I completely agree. The show needed a lot of work. I’m surprised by how many people claim it is the best show they’ve ever seen. The book was all over the place. The choreo was good and the actors were great, but there’s a reason it only won one Tony Award.
It was announced while it was still playing that it would do a national tour in 2023. No more has been said about that as of late. It would be nice if it revamped and toured thus giving jobs to people. I think it would have a life as a tour especially if it became a show bundled with other shows.
"It's 38 degrees...I know Americans may be laughing at that temperature right now..." No, Americans are wondering why you aren't cold. ;p Great video! I subscribed on the basis of your most recent Bridgerton-musical-drama vid and the Sondheim one (
When I left a comment in a recent video about this, I genuinely didn't think I'd see a video on this so fast! I'm glad you brought up your points about Rebecca Caine, I've seen so many people not even mention her in their discussion about Paradise Square.
I saw Paradise Square in early June (I also saw Music Man and a Strange Loop that weekend and out of the 3 Paradise Square was my favorite). It told the story of the 1863 draft riots through the lens of a interracial community in the Five Points (now Chinatown) neighborhood of NYC. It did a good job illustrating aspects of the melding and clashing of cultures in the first act, but the second act seemed a little rushed/ messy when it came to portraying the actual riot and fall out of the riot. The saving grace of this part of the 2nd act is Joaquina Kalukango singing “Let It Burn” (seeing it live brought me to tears). In addition to Kalukango, there are a lot of great dance numbers that blend Irish and African styles of dance, and in my opinion Sidney DuPont also gave a stand out performance. I was actually thinking of taking my sister who was a history major and works at a museum to the show for her birthday but because of how quickly it closed I didn’t get a chance to see it again. I’m someone who gets chatty with the people I’m sitting around before the show starts and during intermission and when I shared I didn’t know much about the show, but decided to see it when I could get $39 rush tickets (1/3 of the price I spent on Music Man). The guy I was sitting next to had seen the show 6 times and shared his love for Kalukango and that the show had been completely under publicized. We talked about the lack of a time square billboard, commercials, or previews on morning news and talk shows, etc. which is pretty common for newer Broadway shows and how that was probably hurting ticket sales. He said, “It’s like the producers didn’t know you have to spend money to make money” … and once I heard the producer related drama this random guy’s comment is now living rent free in my head. While it has the NYC history overlap with Hamilton, that about where the comparisons really stop. Hamilton was innovative in the way it made history seem modern with its casting and score. While Paradise Square’s music is lively it has more of a Come From Away meets Les Mis type of score. Like Les Mis Paradise Square tells the story of mostly fictional characters (there are a couple of historical figures featured in PS) living through a historical event. Paradise Square’s costumers are also more in line with Ragtime or Les Mis than Hamilton’s minimalistic/ artistic take on historical dress. The PS set remind me of Newsies with a series of multi leveled scaffolds being used to represent the saloon, buildings, etc. While I was never expecting PS to become a Broadway staple like Lion King, Chicago, or Wicked I assumed it would make it till the fall of winter (and probably close around when Kalukango was going to depart, so the news it was closing so quickly was shocking.
The cast sang and danced their hearts out, but the sad fact is that the show is simply not that good. The idea of Broadway-ifying the songbook of 19th century composer Stephen Foster sounded interesting, but the Foster-derived music and the original songs are a resounding "Meh." And the story was convoluted and earnest-bordering-on-cloying. We didn't hate it, but we were glad we didn't pay full price for it. I'll add that I don't think the show's style or its marketing was comparable to Hamilton; Drabinsky and his team (especially when it had its pre-pandemic, pre-Broadway try out at Berkeley Rep) did everything but openly declare it a prequel to Ragtime.
People didn't stay away because Garth Drabinsky is a white-collar thief. It was more than just "not that good". A dance contest to save a bar. That sounds like something Andy hardy would try to pull off.
I was in nyc last week and stayed across the street from the theatre that housed PS. It’s on 47th street so it’s tucked away from the main theatre’s of 44th and 45th. Seeing it looking skeletal and knowing what it on, is gut wrenching to know these people were put out of work for greed. As if being unemployed because of pandemic wasn’t bad enough, here’s another slap in face of how are my bills getting paid?
Forgive my ignorance but if the design team do get the rights, is that an avenue through which the show could return or mount a tour, or would that require other producers to come in with deep pockets to make that happen?
Thank you for mentioning Rebecca Caines abuse, I haven’t seen many people besides her talk about it besides like, her and Broadway bob and people need to know what happened to her and he needs consequences
His company was also involved in the restoration of what's now the Lyric Theatre. It opened in 1998 with Ragtime as the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, then went through a bunch of ownership and name changes when his company went bankrupt. It's a pretty great theatre -- they took two adjacent older theatres, gutted most of the interiors while keeping a lot of exterior architectural details, and built was what then an extremely modern space, built for large-scale musicals. If you watch a bootleg of the original Ragtime (there are a few on TH-cam), you'll see that the stage itself is enormous -- they've got a whole car on the stage with like eight other things happening at the same time, and there's a ton of height for things like Houdini's escapes and Evelyn's swing. It's also one of the only theatres that has an elevator to the mezzanine level (almost every other theatre, people who can't use stairs can only access seats in the orchestra level), and the seats themselves are a bit wider than average, with the rows a bit further apart, so it's a lot more comfortable than some of the cramped older theatres. (Right now, HP and the Cursed Child is playing there.) There were all sorts of legal issues with it that I can't quite remember, but it went through at least three different names over a very short period of time, as it kept changing ownership. A lot of the shows that have opened and then quickly closed there have said that part of the problem was that a theatre that size has enormous operating costs. It seems to have hosted more than its fair share of big-name flops, most notably Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
Here is a Garth Drabinsky story for you...I am a professional choral conductor in Toronto (Donny Slader is NOT my true name) and was presenting a formal concert with my nationally recognized women's choir, featuring music from the motion picture 'Paradise Road' (music created and sung by women held prisoner in Sumatra from 1942-1945). The motion picture starred Glenn Close. I had permission from the author of this true story Helen Colijn to present the concert, music, and select narration from the book approved by her for this concert version. The narrator was, and is, a prominent former prima ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada. The concert also featured about 25 students from the National Ballet School of Canada dancing throughout. The evening was a very memorable and stunningly beautiful concert. From the podium, and during the final dress rehearsal in a prominent Toronto church, I noticed a man wandering around the sanctuary. This being a closed rehearsal I became perplexed as I was in charge of the event and had not granted permission for any guests. I soon recognized the man in question to be Mr. Drabinksy. He then started making comments about his lack of liking to the lighting design. Did I miss my break in taking a show to broadway due to his distain for the lighting? I was later to find out that his grand-daughter was one of the dancers from the National Ballet School. Those are the breaks!
Paradise Square had its world premiere in Berkeley CA which isn’t too far from me. Unfortunately I had some health issues at the time and wasn’t able to go. I remember it getting mostly positive reviews with the caveat that it still needed some work.
I saw it on a feildtrip in middle school! I've seen over 15 popular broadway productions and to this day Paradise Square at berkelely rep was the most touching and most impressive production I have ever seen. Saw it 3 times in a row and cried every time.
Wow so interesting - didn't know very much of the history of this nor Rebecca Caine. Was going to say sounds just like the Producers!! Thanks for the video. It's a shame not to get to see the show.
There actually was a Toronto production, although even I (a fan of this show) didn't know about that until very recently. I saw this show early in previews and a few times after, once each month of its run, and was there a couple days ago for closing night as well. I think this show didn't deserve the life it should have gotten, but also understand all of the mess behind the scenes. The show infamously had very little marketing, if any at all really, although that changed a few months ago once they finally started to get out there. I really hate that this show went through all of the terrible things that it did, and from the first time Ms. Joaquina Kalukango walked onstage, I knew she'd be a star. Also very rarely see a standing ovation mid-show, yet she managed to get one every night it seems. Overall, I wish the future of this show all the best, and hope for the best for all involved, and that justice is given to all involved. Incredible show that was put in the wrong hands (Garth)
Me either. Makes me feel better about the fact that he's never been my favourite JVJ. That honour goes to John Owen-Jones, who I really hope doesn't have any horrible stories waiting to be found out.
Putting the horrible actions of the producers aside, it’s a shame that this show had to close. I found the score to be mostly a bop, the choreography to be sensational, and all the vocal performances to be top notch. Besides the PHENOMENAL Jaoquinna, there were stand out performances from other principals; especially Sidney DuPont, AJ Shively, and Chellina Kennedy (who also deserved a Tony nomination)
I saw PARADISE SQUARE, as well as the Brilliant RAGTIME, FOSSE, PARADE, BARRYMORE, SHOW BOAT... THESE WERE ALL WONDERFUL PRODUCTIONS. RAGTIME was Spectacular...!!! Back to PS... there was a LOT to really like... the Tony Award winning Actress... when I saw in previews.. stated "She will WIN the Tony." As seen on the Tony telecast.. she acted, sang and HELD THAT LAST NOTE (SINGING) not SCREAMING, as so many of these divas today. They are more SCREAMER than SINGER!!! I am sorry for the Phantom young Lady....But in all the US productions prior to PS there were no public reports.... The Actors were ALWAYS paid... until PS now. Usually when one is brave enough to come out and expose bad behavior, others soon follow. The Canada production of POTO was prior to the above mention B'way shows. And GD employed Hundreds, and Hundreds of performers in Canada and the US (so that would be Thousands and Thousands). The Choreography in PS was very good (especially the step dancing), which was not done by the only name for the Tony nominations. the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Nominated ALL of the choreographers. What has been reported about PS is only a drop in the bucket of the UNPAID from PS. Will there be future productions of PS - of course they will be (remember "Carrie"). When that will be = who knows? But there will be one or more?
I feel like if Garth can walk away from the show, have someone else own it and rewrite some of the book a bit, it can be a real hit. It has so much potential.
I am ALMOST positive that there is a full length documentary about Gath Drabinsky lol On a related note, I personally did not care for Paradsise Square. I found it relatively bland and boring, and felt it to be a slog to sit through to get to the big 11 o'clock number, which still didn't save the show, nor satisfy me. Frankly, had Caroline, or Change been running in the spring, Joaquina would not have won the Tony, nor do I think she deserved it (not to say she isn't extremely talented, and literally held that show together.)
I think that the West End/ London/ UK is more important or at least more willing to try and give shows runs. I don't know if there are differences in prices, it's just the mentality, or what but it also seems like it is A LOT more readily available to the general public. Whereas Broadway theatre is New York Theatre and yes the shows tour but unless it is a Hamilton, Wicked, Phantom, or Lion King it probably isn't going to get a multi-year run on tour with this day and age with possibilities of transferring to Broadway and then going back on tour. And the regional stuff... Unless you know about you don't know about it because it doesn't get the advertising. Legally Blonde had a multi-year run and ran on tour multiple years in the UK. It was the Oliviero winner. It didn't even get to perform at the Tony's the year it was up for nominations... Heather's has had a second life and is thriving. Mostly because of ALW and CM (who are definitely problematic) you see regular tours and revivals of shows including a lot of R&H like Sound of Music and Oklahoma that you don't see often on Broadway.
As a writer and a fan of history-based theatre, this production had some issues structurally and artistically. The producers chose to focus on dance and spectacle, while reducing a race riot that killed hundreds to a brief monologue and an (admittedly amazing) 11 o’clock number sung by Joaquina Kulakango. The huge cast, expensive moving set pieces, and neverending musical numbers were designed to make the show splashy and commercially appealing, but it ultimately made the budget unsustainable. Any respectable producer would have closed down the show after a few weeks of poor grosses, but as we all know, Drabinsky is anything but respectable. What surprises me is that so many people agreed to work with and for a man with a known criminal record for fraud. Earlier this year he pulled the same thing with an Off-Broadway show called Emojiland. It goes to show, you really have to be careful who you get in bed with in this industry.
oh mannnnn, I remember watching the emojiland tour crash and burn under this guy. I’ve been a fan of the show since its off broadway run, and at this point have talked with a few castmates about the drama as well. the tour was non-union and almost completely unmarketed , like straight up theatres were giving away tickets. iirc one of the theatres had only sold four tickets. when they announced the tour’s cancellation they said they’d do one performance and stream it, but I highly doubt even that’ll happen given half of the cast is shit talking management online now (as they should). I was in the official discord when the cancellation announcement dropped, genuinely one of the wildest situations I’ve witnessed up close in real time
I another note about paradise, is bringing, into the woods, back to Broadway. It’s brilliant. I’m sure it will win every Tony it’s nominated for, best revile should be a shoo in. It’s brought a lot of tourist back to see that stellar cast (me being one) 8 weeks sold out quickly. Not to boast 🤣 but, I was lucky enough to sit center stage front row. Their soundtrack comes in September.
Yes! It cost over ten million dollars to produce and that's not including how much it cost to physically run the show day after day. Despite running for over 800 performances, there was no way that Ragtime was ever going to recoup its original investment, unless it ran for longer.
he can produce shows with non- equity actors...... and he has the financial means to produce and paradice sq. was not a show that would attract families.....the subject matter was not one to interest tourists........and the ticket costs were never reduced to attract tourists....
I snagged a discounted ticket to PS at the end of April, shortly after it returned from its COVID hiatus. The audience seemed to be filled with friends of the show, based on pre-show interactions between several groups and people in the pit (I literally had a front row seat to to witness it). Their reactions to the show were very loud and supportive. Mine was mixed. The actors all turned in fine performances of material that didn't deserve it. The show wants to do and wants to be about too much. The Civil War-era black experience and the Irish experience among the community aren't blended well by the direction, the book, or the score. The choreo was fantastic and illustrative of the two main styles and did the best "blending" of the competing cultural elements. The set is colossal, and too large for the tiny Barrymore stage. (For context, the last tenant at the Barrymore was The Inheritance.) To your other question, the show doesn't stack up well against other Garth productions I've seen. (Phantom in Toronto, Ragtime in Toronto, Spider Woman on tour, Parade on tour.) The difference is evident in the collaborators of those shows vs. PS. You had the likes of Hal Prince, Kander & Ebb, Ahrens & Flaherty, Jason Robert Brown, ALW, among other "name" designers and creatives back then. I did geek out about Jason Howland as composer (also conducting the performance), based on his history with Jekyll & Hyde. Sadly, the score was middle of the road for me. Thank goodness for the mask mandate at the time, as it spared the cast seeing my generally perplexed expression during the majority of the show. I honestly don't think the closing number was anything special--despite Joaquina blowing the roof of the theatre with her performance--and the problem lies in the song itself, and the poor job it does of storytelling. My opinions about PS may be unpopular, but it was a perplexing and mediocre evening of theatre. The lawsuits are likely to preclude the opportunity of a tour, so I don't see much of a life for this show after the gossip dies down.
I saw this show in its pre-Broadway run in Chicago. Overall I thought that Joaquina and the choreography were the main stand outs and I felt that the music was repetitive and got boring. However, the story is really interesting and I wonder what it would've developed into with better producers. I think it was really promising and I wish they could start over because all of the talent and the creatives were clearly doing great work.
The show is too long, the book is too convoluted, and there are too many characters. These issues should've been addressed/corrected before mounting it on Broadway, because buried under all of it are the makings of a great show. That said, even had that been done and the show was a popular hit that made a killing, it's doubtful the environment would have been much better for the cast and crew under the thumb of Drabinsky's toxicity. Imagine going to prison all those years and not learning A DAMN THING. It's mind-boggling.
Saw it two days ago, and all I have to show is that this show deserved so much better. The best show I’ve seen in the last five years. ALSO edit after I’ve watched a bit more of the video: the national tour is already in early development for 2023-24!
I worked in the group sales department of Livent for its last two years of existence. I'd heard stories about Darth-er, I mean Garth-flinging tape dispensers and staplers at people working in his office and at executives during board meetings up on the sixth floor, but since I was the lowest of the low working on the third floor, that really didn't affect me. One morning I got in the elevator and Drabinsky limped in after me. Now, I had been warned that one must never make eye contact with Himself, much less talk to him, but I've always thought, well, a cat can look at a king and I'll talk to anyone because I just don't give a fuck. So I asked him how things were going, and he was actually quite approachable. I mentioned that I'd bought his autobiography. He asked me how I liked it and I said it was very enlightening and I definitely got my money's worth. I hadn't the heart to tell him that the book was from the remainder bin and only cost me $4.95. I asked him if he'd like to autograph it for me, and he told me to bring it up to his office and leave it with his secretary and he'd be happy to sign it. So I did, and he did. On the whole, I didn't really enjoy working at Livent all that much. Arranging tour groups for _Phantom_ seemed meaningless, especially since I didn't even like the show. Plus I hated sales, and the pay was shit. But I did get free tickets to _Show Boat_ (loved it), _Sunset Boulevard_ (meh, the scenery was gorgeous), and _Smoky Joe's Cafe_ (hated it, left at intermission) and I saw a lot of shows in their early stages for free, like _Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, Parade,_ and _Fosse,_ and met people like Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon, Brent Carver, Carolee Carmello, Hal Prince, Ahrens & Flaherty, and Jason Robert Brown. At the end, when all the legal nonsense was going down and it was clear the company was going bankrupt, the general manager of Livent summoned us all to the sixth floor board room after lunch one Friday in mid-December, and told us our jobs would be finished at the end of that day. As we were all filing out, I yelled back over my shoulder, "Well, merry fucking Christmas, Dan!" My supervisor was scandalized by that, but I said to him, "What's he going to do? Fire me?"
I saw Paradise Square during it's previews. The show stopped 3 times for technical difficulties. I had never seen this happen on Broadway. I know it can happen but 3 times didn't bode well. I think the story had too many characters and you could have eliminated the Stephen Foster subplot. Totally unnecessary. Great idea executed poorly. Too bad many good performances.
![ILLSLICK - THE KING'S LANDING [Freestyle]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/feIJJnNkTfk/mqdefault.jpg)
The show is a masterpiece. If you saw it, you would be hurt that the artists who created and contributed to its fruition would suffer such a fate. Being an ardent theater goer for nearly 3 decades, I must tell you that the last performance was the most electric, most powerful, deeply moving and memorable show that I have ever witnessed. There was not a dry eye in the house. The standing ovations were spontaneous and thunderous. The actors gave everything they’ve got. There is an audio recording of Joaquina’s Let it Burn on that final performance posted on TH-cam. You should listen to it. She was on fire and the applause was very long and deafening. She and the entire cast stood proudly and cried.
A
This show is the most amazing show I have seen in years. I was also at the final show and I am so proud of that company! They grabbed our hearts and gave us the best show.
I hadn't really even heard of it until the Tony's and even my heart hurts for them! Thanks for advocating for how good it is (both you and MickeyJo), and I'm headed over to find her performance right after I hit send.
Agreed the show is a masterpiece. I say it in June, just after Tony’s. Was in nyc for the Tony’s and saw Joaquín’s performance live and then rushed to see the show that week. Was hoping to get to see it again but tragically that is not going to happen in the next while. Hope they release the soundtrack and the show gets another life down the track - so heartbreaking that a show this amazing, with such masterful performances had to close so early, and more tragic the cast and crew were treated so unfairly. Glad you were able to see the last performance.
This was my personal favorite musical I have seen this past year! Just loved it! Here's hoping it has a great life after Broadway!
I LOVED Paradise Square, saw it six times. I HATE how all of these kind, talented, and passionate people have been snubbed in so many ways. At least at closing I was able to make some of the cast smile with my F*** GARTH sign I made at the stage door
Iconic behavior 👏👏👏👏👏
Never underestimate the number of chances that rich white men will be given to ‘show they’ve changed’ or ‘make amends’ and at no point have they shown any desire to change or make amends.
My wife and I saw the show at the end of April, and it's quite a special masterpiece. I also acknowledge some bias because I am one of the high school instructors Joaquina spoke of in her Tony acceptance speech. Her success and recognition for her work in this show was personal for so many people in the Atlanta and Georgia artistic community!! It really hurts my heart and angers me to know that all of that incredibly talented cast had to deal with so much garbage from an outright crook! 😠
I had the chance to see Paradise Square a few weeks ago and thought it was a beautiful story about solidarity and community. It's a bummer that all it'll be remembered for is legal issues and an evil producer.
THANK YOU!!! I feel like this story is going under the radar with the Funny Girl drama, and this is the real drama. The actors and crew really deserve justice. From everything I’ve heard, there’s a good musical in there that deserves a platform, but the drama around it is taking its limelight.
Allow me to express some naivete. I am on the younger side of the theatre community and arguably the demographic that hamilton was for - and as I have been through the highs and lows of the love for hamilton , I have to say that paradise square is what I wish hamilton was. My dream is to be a drummer who plays in pits one day but I also have an IMMENSE love for dance - any decent drummer should know the history of how drumming came to be. Through the slave trade, to be exact. It was the expression of dance that created drumming. And obviously the talents of tap and hamboning grew and now it is a strong part of rhythm and beating that happens in hip hop dances , and paradise square so eloquently recognized this. It was a love letter to african dance and how it developed. But more importantly, it was black actors on a stage being able to tell REAL BLACK STORIES. Yes, we love hamilton, but for the masses to have such a way of not being able to separate the fact that black people have a history in America that should be told and can only compare it to POC having to portray a white mans story is such an understatment. And to be honest, I live in Chi town and saw it in previews and was able to see it in New York, and I never felt that it was even advertised as “the next hamilton”, I always felt it was “this is the next best classic.” Paradise Square just finally did everything right for once in theatre. Maybe not with an evil producer, but the cast was phenomenal and THE PIT WAS THE MOST DIVERSE I HAVE EVER SEEN IT, for both race and gender, it truly let me know that I have a place im the industry, and to just see a show that struck with me so well and explained all of the things that I actually like about America and our perserverance, to just close because they werent getting paid is beyond upsetting.
I had a few questions/suggestions for you if you don’t mind:
1) Have you seen the movie 1776? It’s sort of a prequel to Hamilton. It has what is considered one of the best books in Broadway history, with fun, and occasionally powerful songs. Highly recommend the early 70s movie!
It’s not a black show, but there are a number of those I’m curious if you’ve see or heard.
2) House of Flowers (1954) starring Pearl Bailey and young ingenue Dianne Carol. Pearl handles the sassy comedy songs, and Dianne gets three stunners: A Sleepin Bee, I Never Has Seen Snow, and Gonna Leave Off Wearin’ My Shoes. The book and lyrics are by gay author Truman Capote, and the music by Harold Arlen, who wrote the music for the 1939 movie musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’! The story is about two rival brothels or ‘houses’ on a Caribbean island, Pearl runs the house of ‘flowers’ as each of her young ladies is named after a flower such as Pansy, etc. The critics sadly considered this too risqué at the time and it only lasted 84 (glorious!) performances. It is available on CD, highly recommended.
3) Purlie is the musical version of the stage play Purlie Victorious, and Melba Moore gets to blow everyone away with the showstopper‘I got love’. The show is set during the era of the Jim Crow south. The CD is magnificent, and it was also filmed for PBS, so that may be here on youtube.
4) The Wiz - the black version of the Wizard of Oz, done just after the book entered the public domain. So there are certain things in the movie they couldn’t legally use, like the Ruby Slippers and the snowstorm stopping the poppies. The movie is good but not perfect. Mabel King tears it up as the Wicked Witch in her song ‘Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News!’
"Paradise Square just finally did everything right for once in theatre."
Every show has a problem in it but great music, a compelling book, ingenious choreography, and brilliant lyrics make a show a classic."Paradise Square" did not have the brilliant choreography of "West Side Story" or "Chicago"; nor the score of thirty musicals I could mention, or a single song that will become listed as among the best ever written. How, then, did it do everything right?
@@andredarin8966 First of all, RLucas3000 started with "allow me to express some naiveté," because they're young, so your demands that they contrast and compare to other musicals they couldn't possibly have seen is ridiculous. Regardless, RLucas showed more insight than you did: they're talking about the musical doing everything right WITH REGARD TO showing Black stories with Black performers, rather than Hamilton that is showing White stories with POC actors. That was CLEAR from their explanation, so you should work on your reading comprehension. RL is speaking from THEIR perspective on the world, not yours. News flash: there are other people in the world with other perspectives than yours. And they are allowed to have those perspectives and opinions; I wish more people like them would express them, which they won't when they get attacked like you just did. I wish more people like you would LISTEN to what they're saying and work on understanding it instead of batting it back in their face with demands for IRRELEVANT answers. Black people on a stage telling Black stories. That was doing everything right. Not the choreography from West Side Story. Not the lyrics from Pajama Game. I thought the poster RLucas3000 showed great insight and you missed it due to some other agenda you've got going. RLucas3000: Keep speaking up, you're doing a great job.
@@RLucas3000 Very well put. See my response to Glenn Korbel where I mention you.
Hey :) @ataata I'm a professional pit player based in Seattle. I don't know your specifics based on your post, but I'm able to gather that you are a drummer/percussionist that is not white, not male, or both. If you are queer or female identifying, you should check out Maestra and if you are of the global majority you should check out MUSE. Both of these orgs are elevating poc and queer/femme musicians in the theatre world. I know that at least one member of the Paradise pit is Maestra. Both orgs are doing some great work and include things like mentorship opportunities. That might be up your alley given your professional ambitions :)
it's amazing how Garth Dabrinsky wasn't put on the No Work List way back in the late 90s / early 2000s for you know, the Ragtime fiasco
It's weird that they were liken it to Hamilton because it did not feel that way when I saw it in Chicago. While I loved it, the staging and songs felt way more traditional than Hamilton. They even included traditional songs from that time period. And I really liked how it treated the struggles that Irish immigrants and black Americans faced with equal amounts of respect.
I'm bummed that the producer was such a horrible boss that this is most likely the end of the line for the show.
I saw Paradise Square the Saturday before it closed (matinee) and I loved it!! I thought that it told a story that was lost in the history books. The cast was phenomenal!! Their singing, dancing, and acting was top notch. I hope that there is a national tour because I would love to be able to see this show again. I hope that it will happen and that the cast album sees the light of day! Also I got my playbill signed by Joaquina and she is honestly so nice!!
Multiple news sources have confirmed a tour is planned for 2023/2024. Let’s hope that happens and let’s hope this drama is resolved before the tour begins.
@@TerronSingletary I read about a tour on Wikipedia which I know isn’t the best source. Hopefully the tour happens and the drama does destroy it before it happens
@@TerronSingletary yes, but...Garth has the rights as of now. He's the one who said there will be a tour. That will be very difficult to do if none of the unions will work with him.
Mickey Jo.... That cast recording will never see the light of day. It was supposed to be released in May and wasn't because no one involved was paid including the studio. They don't have the money to pay to get it.
Thanks for the Canadian shout-out, even though under dubious circumstances. It was really fun to go to Toronto in the 90s and see all of those huge musicals. Beautiful theatres were built and renovated. Drabinski did a lot of this, but so did Mirvish productions, who are still there doing great work. I did wonder why Colm and Rebecca weren't there when we flew up to see Phantom. Turns out it was a week after the incident. I did see Garth at the Pantages that night.
So glad a cast recording is coming out, I'd love to hear this show!
Is there a release date for the cast recording?
@@Showtunediva no I just heard it was going to happen and it was announced but I haven't heard anything since :(
I’m a Canadian artist, and the Canadian actors equity has also added him to our do not work list
I was very surprised by the mostly negative reviews. I really enjoyed the show and thought the cast was wonderful. The financial mismanagement of the show is unconscionable.
I agree this show was a masterpiece. The most gorgeous music, the most inspired choreography, wonderful staging and the most talented people you'll ever see on a Broadway stage, every single one of them. I saw it four times, and it broke my heart when it closed. The audience always went nuts when it was over, standing, yelling, clapping. I could never understand why everybody in New York was not talking about this show. Seeing it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It's also worth mentioning that a lot of the shows Drabinsky produced on Broadway, wound up finding new life when they released the rights for regional productions (regional houses, schools, community theatre, etc.)
Saw that show in nyc and it was great. So sad to hear it close and how the cast and creatives were treated unfairly. I am hoping they still release the cast recording.
Garth Drabinsky??? I thought he was living in a tunnel beneath the Meridian Arts Centre! (This is a deep Toronto theatre nerd cut, but I had to make it.) Great video, and seriously, we need a full Drabinsky doc!!
Torontonian here, this comment made my night
Chorus of T dot laughter.
One already exists.
@@GGcomment I most definitely see that docu in Wait In The Wings' future. They're so good when it comes to documentaires.
@@Vertigotheatre1 OMG, I guess I know what I'm doing tonight!!
I saw it a few weeks ago. It goes without saying that Joaquina Kalukango is amazing. The choreo is fantastic. The set is very good. The score is ok and the book a muddle IMHO. I'd liken it more to Ragtime (which I love) than Hamilton. Unlike Ragtime they take what seemed like 45 minutes to establish the characters. The night I saw it, a Thursday eve. in mid June, the theater was about half full. Not the best new play of the season but far from the worst.
Recently found your channel and think your coverage of West End/Broadway shows is incredible. You should have a podcast!
Ohh yessss I'd watch/listen to that
I didn't see the show on Broadway, but I saw its pre-Broadway run in Chicago, and you could tell then that this was a production in trouble. With a few exceptions -- "Let It Burn," and especially Joaquina Kalukango's performance -- the music is not memorable. The book is a jumbled mess, trying to tell too many stories, with the result that it succeeds in none. The main story revolves around the patrons of a bar run by Kalukango's character that caters to both a black and white clientele, and it they had stopped there, it would have been fine. But it's told against the backdrop of the Five Points riots -- basically, the plot of the movie Gangs of New York -- and nobody cares about that. It's historically interesting, but there's no "heart" to that story. There's also a subplot about composer Stephen Foster that, WTF? The Stephen Foster story base the basis of the original script many years ago, but it adds nothing to this telling. As they say, in writing you have to kill your darlings. The book has FOUR writers, which is usually a sign of trouble.
I imagine a director/producer like Hal Prince could have found a way to make this work, but Garth Drabinsky isn't that producer, and director Moises Kaufman brings little to the project. The show is almost saved by the stunning choreography of Bill T. Jones -- truly the highlight of he show -- but you have to muddle through a lot of nonsense to get to that. I'll be interested in your response to the score, if you hear it. The West End won't miss it.
totally agree with everything you said
@@rebeccab999 I second that.
Completely in disagreement. As a historical piece similar to Les Miz, I appreciated the many different character and cultural stories. Although more of a traditional musical, the score has more memorable songs than Hamilton plus much more dynamic choreography. The Stephen Foster subplot was a marginal component that was interesting but not detracting. And to say nobody cares about the Five Points riots is just racist. I learned a a lot about this historical event, as I did when seeing Hamilton, and found it very relevant for issues still facing America today.
As a newbie to broadway, I’d love to hear more about banned producers and what steps broadway is taking to ensure the care of the cast & crew.
I saw this show in November in Chicago before it opened in New York, and despite the immensely talented and diverse cast, it was overall pretty flat. The singing and dancing chops of the cast didn't make up for the poor pacing and character development. I was shocked when it opened on Broadway without being further workshopped because there were a bunch of holes, and it was pretty bland with the same character traits being driven home over and over without any real depth to the characters. It's a shame because it could have been great, but it was just too jumbled. Paradise Square tried to tell too many stories (including one about Stephen Foster for some reason) and didn't tell any of them successfully
This sums up the problems of the show very well. The word that came to my mind at the end was “overwrought.”
My friend Sidney was in Paradise Square. I am so sad I did not get to see it before it closed & feel bad for all the cast for all the drama they had to deal with behind the scenes.😓
Sidney is one of the nicest humans I've ever met. Even recognized me from previous stage-dooring (I saw PS 6 times)
@@abridgedbooks7263 He is awesome. I met him when I did publicity in 2011 for Interlakes Summer Theatre in Meredith NH.
I got to see the show shortly before it closed and was so sad but the negative press it was getting leading up to the closing. What was going on with mismanagement, not being paid and all the finances is awful. The show itself while not completely factual was very enjoyable. I hope that the cast and crew get the wages they deserve and are able to move forward.
Okay I saw opening night of paradise square Pre-broadway. This show was first created and showed at berekly-rep, I was going to a private middleschool at the time and we went on a field trip to see this show since it was local and they had cheaper tickets for whole classes. When I tell you that this show is a actual masterpeice I mean it. I have seen phantom of the opera, les mis, singing in the rain, the addams, anything goes, hamilton, school, of rock, wicked, book of mormon, waitress, and more and more and more broadway shows in sanfransisco and LA. I remember going to this show not expecting much because it's just berekly-rep, not broadway, i thought it would be some community theatre project. After I saw the opening night for the first time, me and my entire family went back to see this show 3 time after, we wouldve gone more if we had the money. We cried our asses off every single night. This show was made by people who genuinly give af about what they were making/working on and it showed. I could not crituqe on thing about this show. It was beautiful all the way through and we'd leave the theatre speechless every single time. This performance honestly was more touching than any other I had ever ever seen, including all of the ones i mentioned previously and more. Its devastating what happened and how it's gone down hill since. I just am posting this because I don't want people to take this show for granted if it ever comes back. This show has so so so much potential and can be something truly amazing but only if it's done right. It's heartbreaking that it was made right before covid hit, I wonder what it couldve become if covid didn't happen. I honestly believe that this show couldve been the biggest hit in twenty or more years if the circumstances were right.
Loved the show!!! I got to see the show during a matinee with several understudies who performed absolutely phenomenally. The staging (set), large cast (over 30+), music score, performances, and dance numbers, and satisfying length of the show (unlike Six which was about 80+ minutes) were everything one who enjoys theatre would want. I would compare it more to a Les Miserable'esque show rather than that of a Hamilton'esque show. I am so sad to hear this news. I sure hope the rights to the show are transferred and it can be reproduced. Great theatre. I was also lucky enough to see Ben Vereen in the audience (apparently his third visit to the show).
I saw this show in May. It is probably the single most moving thing I have ever had the honor to see. I was in the second row dead center and could see all the emotions and joy these artists felt as they performed. The contrast between the Irish dancers and the black/possibly former slave dancers was thrilling as they seemed to leap 6 feet off the floor. I could see the tears run down Joaquina Kalukango’s face as she took in the endless standing ovation after “Let it Burn.” Another must see on TH-cam song “Breathe Easy,” is a moving song featuring the run away slave characters and will bring you to tears as they sing about getting closer to freedom but the audience knows that African Americans still haven’t fully seen freedom and still “need eyes in back of their head” to survive racism. I hope the designers win the rights. Perhaps then the soundtrack will be released.
The show is absolutely beautiful. This is such a shame for all of the talented artists involved. Looking forward to the cast recording as well. Please do react to it.
I worked for Garth at Cineplex Odeon in the 1980s. He hated paying bills back then too. He only cared about the Cineplex stock price going up.
I just saw Paradise Square on Broadway last week! I had no idea this was going on. I absolutely loved this musical! Such a great story and what a shame this happened to the production. Seeing the packed house, you would have not known the theater was not able to sell seats.
It’s midnight in Canada🇨🇦 and I’ve just discovered your channel I’m enjoying your videos so much,I can’t close my iPad. Your comments are funny, yet very professional. I’m now a big fan and have subscribed. I hope you can stay cool.
One of the oddest things about the show that points to something wrong in the production is the fact that the cast recording was supposed to come out late may/june......
and it still hasn't come out, despite the fact that they've already recorded it (obviously not as bad as the unpaid wages, but really strange)
Oh no...it's just as bad.
The album hasn't been released because no one who was involved in making it has been paid. That includes the studio. As such, the studio won't release the recordings (obviously).
At this point, it will likely never see the light of day because even if they could somehow find the money to get it released...I don't think they legally can now because all of the actors involved are equity and Garth is now on the "do not work" list.
@@carr0760 oof that's not surprising considering *everything* but tbh that makes me really sad bc it's exactly the type of show I love and I was looking forward to the cast recording (and obviously bad for the cast and crew that worked so hard)
@@margaretrousseau3783 my friend is in the show but I was unable to travel to go see it. I really wanted that album! It was the only thing I would have had access to.
I have read the recording is now scheduled to be released in September but do not hold your breath.
@@TerronSingletary That's what Garth is saying, but he's also denying all of the allegations against him, so....first hand information from the cast is that it won't be released.
Thanks for this video. I have read a lot about the legal drama. It is always fun to hear your ideas! I have been a fan of Chilina Kennedy for some time so when I went to see some Broadway Shows in April, I saw Paradise Square. I really enjoyed it. The story was very interesting especially since it was based on history. The dancing was phenomenal and of course Let It Burn by Joaquina was an experience I will never forget! I have heard it will be touring but maybe not until the legal issues are settled. I would definitely see it again.
There is actually a full documentary about Garth Drabinsky called "Showstopper" available on Broadway HD... haven't see it yet.
I just want to say again how erudite and well spoken you are. It is a pleasure to listen to you speak on any topic really. I especially like how you manage to give your opinion without offending anyone; how do you do that? I can't do it. I think it's because you set up the logic so well that it is clear why you have that opinion, but then you always back it up with, "If this is important to you and you like this show I don't want to take that away from you," or whatever the subject is. Just .... well done on your youtube channel. Very well done.
I saw this show and it was wonderful. The performers truly gave it their all and I was close to tears. I feel so bad for everyone involved :(
Glad I got to see it in Chicago 🎭
I loved that show. I have a friend that lives in NYC that had seen it 12 times. It saddens me to think others might not see it. Historically it tells an amazing story. The lyrics and music are wonderful as well. I see the soundtrack isn't out yet. I plan to buy it. I pray somehow it rises out of the ashes to be produced again. Everyone should see this show. Would love to hear an update regarding it. Thanks for the inside scoop!
I got to see Paradise Square this spring. The show had some weak spots that could have been better, but it was over all a really great show with some amazing talent. It is horrible that this will be the show's legacy.
Paradise Square hands down the BEST musical I’ve ever seen. Yes better than Hamilton. The show did not do well mainly because of Garth. What made this production incredible was not only the music and story but the Incredibly talented and passionate cast. Love was evident on that stage and Love should prevail. I hope and pray that it is produced once again. The world needs more shows like Paradise Square!!!!
The americans are not laughing at that temperature, we're very confused because we don't know how to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit in our heads and 38 degrees sounds cold. :P
There is actually a rather fabulous documentary called "Showstopper" that details Drabinsky's rise and fall. I echo all the sentiments expressed here. I found PS to be a truly terrific show and am devastated by what the company and crew had been forced to endure.
I came here to say that. I just discovered it about a month ago and watched it. It was fascinating.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for clear summary of the situation. Just read up more on this thanks to the Playbill article released....incl a crew member whos lil finger was amputated due to a rehearsal injury
Oh and as for the heat.....38 is standard in Aus for summer
Oh and Cosette and JVJ.....Sierra Boggess did Phantom opposite her Little Mermaid daddy, Norm Lewis as the Phantom
And Julie Benko was Cosette understudy when Ramin Karimloo was Valjean, and they're now in Funny Girl together (for the days that she's on.)
You probably have air conditioning though, yes? UK homes do not.
@@carr0760 we in Aus are better suited to it, highpy recommend if no aircon, a cold wet towel like a metre infront of a fan
Americans probably don't understand why 38 degrees makes you sweat.
Got to see it last spring and was most disappointed with the story/script. I think everyone on stage did an incredible job with what they were given (dancing/singing/acting was amazing, costumes/hair gorgeous, sets were interesting), but the script/lyrics need to be workshopped more. It was too on the nose for me looking at today’s xenophobic political climate in the states so it felt heavy handed there. Like I said, the company was amazing, but overall was not blown away. Except by Joaquina.
I completely agree. The show needed a lot of work. I’m surprised by how many people claim it is the best show they’ve ever seen. The book was all over the place. The choreo was good and the actors were great, but there’s a reason it only won one Tony Award.
It was announced while it was still playing that it would do a national tour in 2023. No more has been said about that as of late. It would be nice if it revamped and toured thus giving jobs to people. I think it would have a life as a tour especially if it became a show bundled with other shows.
Lol my mom and I had tickets to see it on the 29th and this is how I found out the show closed. Love that for us.
Ouch!
Ouch indeed.
"It's 38 degrees...I know Americans may be laughing at that temperature right now..."
No, Americans are wondering why you aren't cold. ;p
Great video! I subscribed on the basis of your most recent Bridgerton-musical-drama vid and the Sondheim one (
I watched some clips after your video and it looks super
You could say there's trouble in Paradise. I'm sorry I had to 😅
When I left a comment in a recent video about this, I genuinely didn't think I'd see a video on this so fast! I'm glad you brought up your points about Rebecca Caine, I've seen so many people not even mention her in their discussion about Paradise Square.
I saw Paradise Square in early June (I also saw Music Man and a Strange Loop that weekend and out of the 3 Paradise Square was my favorite). It told the story of the 1863 draft riots through the lens of a interracial community in the Five Points (now Chinatown) neighborhood of NYC. It did a good job illustrating aspects of the melding and clashing of cultures in the first act, but the second act seemed a little rushed/ messy when it came to portraying the actual riot and fall out of the riot. The saving grace of this part of the 2nd act is Joaquina Kalukango singing “Let It Burn” (seeing it live brought me to tears). In addition to Kalukango, there are a lot of great dance numbers that blend Irish and African styles of dance, and in my opinion Sidney DuPont also gave a stand out performance. I was actually thinking of taking my sister who was a history major and works at a museum to the show for her birthday but because of how quickly it closed I didn’t get a chance to see it again.
I’m someone who gets chatty with the people I’m sitting around before the show starts and during intermission and when I shared I didn’t know much about the show, but decided to see it when I could get $39 rush tickets (1/3 of the price I spent on Music Man). The guy I was sitting next to had seen the show 6 times and shared his love for Kalukango and that the show had been completely under publicized. We talked about the lack of a time square billboard, commercials, or previews on morning news and talk shows, etc. which is pretty common for newer Broadway shows and how that was probably hurting ticket sales. He said, “It’s like the producers didn’t know you have to spend money to make money” … and once I heard the producer related drama this random guy’s comment is now living rent free in my head.
While it has the NYC history overlap with Hamilton, that about where the comparisons really stop. Hamilton was innovative in the way it made history seem modern with its casting and score. While Paradise Square’s music is lively it has more of a Come From Away meets Les Mis type of score. Like Les Mis Paradise Square tells the story of mostly fictional characters (there are a couple of historical figures featured in PS) living through a historical event. Paradise Square’s costumers are also more in line with Ragtime or Les Mis than Hamilton’s minimalistic/ artistic take on historical dress. The PS set remind me of Newsies with a series of multi leveled scaffolds being used to represent the saloon, buildings, etc.
While I was never expecting PS to become a Broadway staple like Lion King, Chicago, or Wicked I assumed it would make it till the fall of winter (and probably close around when Kalukango was going to depart, so the news it was closing so quickly was shocking.
The cast sang and danced their hearts out, but the sad fact is that the show is simply not that good. The idea of Broadway-ifying the songbook of 19th century composer Stephen Foster sounded interesting, but the Foster-derived music and the original songs are a resounding "Meh." And the story was convoluted and earnest-bordering-on-cloying. We didn't hate it, but we were glad we didn't pay full price for it. I'll add that I don't think the show's style or its marketing was comparable to Hamilton; Drabinsky and his team (especially when it had its pre-pandemic, pre-Broadway try out at Berkeley Rep) did everything but openly declare it a prequel to Ragtime.
I loved it and thought it was great! It seems this a show that is either loved or hated!
People didn't stay away because Garth Drabinsky is a white-collar thief. It was more than just "not that good". A dance contest to save a bar. That sounds like something Andy hardy would try to pull off.
Hey Mickey Jo👏👏👏well done. Always enjoy your videos with all your insight. Keep it going 🤩
I had tickets to this in September. Very sad I won't be able to see it. Thanks for the info though!
I was in nyc last week and stayed across the street from the theatre that housed PS. It’s on 47th street so it’s tucked away from the main theatre’s of 44th and 45th. Seeing it looking skeletal and knowing what it on, is gut wrenching to know these people were put out of work for greed. As if being unemployed because of pandemic wasn’t bad enough, here’s another slap in face of how are my bills getting paid?
Forgive my ignorance but if the design team do get the rights, is that an avenue through which the show could return or mount a tour, or would that require other producers to come in with deep pockets to make that happen?
The latter. Having the rights means being in control of where/when/how it is performed, but it still takes millions of dollars to produce a show.
Thank you for mentioning Rebecca Caines abuse, I haven’t seen many people besides her talk about it besides like, her and Broadway bob and people need to know what happened to her and he needs consequences
I love all of your videos thanks so much for making and sharing them with us!!!
Thank you for the video. Great work. Fascinating story.
His company was also involved in the restoration of what's now the Lyric Theatre. It opened in 1998 with Ragtime as the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, then went through a bunch of ownership and name changes when his company went bankrupt. It's a pretty great theatre -- they took two adjacent older theatres, gutted most of the interiors while keeping a lot of exterior architectural details, and built was what then an extremely modern space, built for large-scale musicals. If you watch a bootleg of the original Ragtime (there are a few on TH-cam), you'll see that the stage itself is enormous -- they've got a whole car on the stage with like eight other things happening at the same time, and there's a ton of height for things like Houdini's escapes and Evelyn's swing. It's also one of the only theatres that has an elevator to the mezzanine level (almost every other theatre, people who can't use stairs can only access seats in the orchestra level), and the seats themselves are a bit wider than average, with the rows a bit further apart, so it's a lot more comfortable than some of the cramped older theatres. (Right now, HP and the Cursed Child is playing there.)
There were all sorts of legal issues with it that I can't quite remember, but it went through at least three different names over a very short period of time, as it kept changing ownership. A lot of the shows that have opened and then quickly closed there have said that part of the problem was that a theatre that size has enormous operating costs. It seems to have hosted more than its fair share of big-name flops, most notably Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
It's >45C pretty often in my state but it's only doable with copious amounts of A/C. Stay hydrated and be careful Mickey!
Here is a Garth Drabinsky story for you...I am a professional choral conductor in Toronto (Donny Slader is NOT my true name) and was presenting a formal concert with my nationally recognized women's choir, featuring music from the motion picture 'Paradise Road' (music created and sung by women held prisoner in Sumatra from 1942-1945). The motion picture starred Glenn Close. I had permission from the author of this true story Helen Colijn to present the concert, music, and select narration from the book approved by her for this concert version. The narrator was, and is, a prominent former prima ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada. The concert also featured about 25 students from the National Ballet School of Canada dancing throughout. The evening was a very memorable and stunningly beautiful concert. From the podium, and during the final dress rehearsal in a prominent Toronto church, I noticed a man wandering around the sanctuary. This being a closed rehearsal I became perplexed as I was in charge of the event and had not granted permission for any guests. I soon recognized the man in question to be Mr. Drabinksy. He then started making comments about his lack of liking to the lighting design. Did I miss my break in taking a show to broadway due to his distain for the lighting? I was later to find out that his grand-daughter was one of the dancers from the National Ballet School. Those are the breaks!
Paradise Square had its world premiere in Berkeley CA which isn’t too far from me. Unfortunately I had some health issues at the time and wasn’t able to go. I remember it getting mostly positive reviews with the caveat that it still needed some work.
I saw it on a feildtrip in middle school! I've seen over 15 popular broadway productions and to this day Paradise Square at berkelely rep was the most touching and most impressive production I have ever seen. Saw it 3 times in a row and cried every time.
Wow so interesting - didn't know very much of the history of this nor Rebecca Caine. Was going to say sounds just like the Producers!! Thanks for the video. It's a shame not to get to see the show.
There actually was a Toronto production, although even I (a fan of this show) didn't know about that until very recently.
I saw this show early in previews and a few times after, once each month of its run, and was there a couple days ago for closing night as well. I think this show didn't deserve the life it should have gotten, but also understand all of the mess behind the scenes. The show infamously had very little marketing, if any at all really, although that changed a few months ago once they finally started to get out there. I really hate that this show went through all of the terrible things that it did, and from the first time Ms. Joaquina Kalukango walked onstage, I knew she'd be a star. Also very rarely see a standing ovation mid-show, yet she managed to get one every night it seems. Overall, I wish the future of this show all the best, and hope for the best for all involved, and that justice is given to all involved. Incredible show that was put in the wrong hands (Garth)
I had no idea about the Colm Wilkinson situation. Urgh. Have you done a video on this previously?
Me either. Makes me feel better about the fact that he's never been my favourite JVJ. That honour goes to John Owen-Jones, who I really hope doesn't have any horrible stories waiting to be found out.
I just picked up the 1993 Livent Show Boat Toronto cast recording just the other day. I had never heard of Garth Drabinsky until now.
Putting the horrible actions of the producers aside, it’s a shame that this show had to close. I found the score to be mostly a bop, the choreography to be sensational, and all the vocal performances to be top notch. Besides the PHENOMENAL Jaoquinna, there were stand out performances from other principals; especially Sidney DuPont, AJ Shively, and Chellina Kennedy (who also deserved a Tony nomination)
I saw PARADISE SQUARE, as well as the Brilliant RAGTIME, FOSSE, PARADE, BARRYMORE, SHOW BOAT... THESE WERE ALL WONDERFUL PRODUCTIONS. RAGTIME was Spectacular...!!! Back to PS... there was a LOT to really like... the Tony Award winning Actress... when I saw in previews.. stated "She will WIN the Tony." As seen on the Tony telecast.. she acted, sang and HELD THAT LAST NOTE (SINGING) not SCREAMING, as so many of these divas today. They are more SCREAMER than SINGER!!! I am sorry for the Phantom young Lady....But in all the US productions prior to PS there were no public reports.... The Actors were ALWAYS paid... until PS now. Usually when one is brave enough to come out and expose bad behavior, others soon follow. The Canada production of POTO was prior to the above mention B'way shows. And GD employed Hundreds, and Hundreds of performers in Canada and the US (so that would be Thousands and Thousands). The Choreography in PS was very good (especially the step dancing), which was not done by the only name for the Tony nominations. the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Nominated ALL of the choreographers. What has been reported about PS is only a drop in the bucket of the UNPAID from PS. Will there be future productions of PS - of course they will be (remember "Carrie"). When that will be = who knows? But there will be one or more?
I feel like if Garth can walk away from the show, have someone else own it and rewrite some of the book a bit, it can be a real hit. It has so much potential.
I am ALMOST positive that there is a full length documentary about Gath Drabinsky lol
On a related note, I personally did not care for Paradsise Square. I found it relatively bland and boring, and felt it to be a slog to sit through to get to the big 11 o'clock number, which still didn't save the show, nor satisfy me. Frankly, had Caroline, or Change been running in the spring, Joaquina would not have won the Tony, nor do I think she deserved it (not to say she isn't extremely talented, and literally held that show together.)
It is such a great show, so sad to see it close in these circumstances
PS Nothing like Hamilton, that should not be part of the equation.
I think that the West End/ London/ UK is more important or at least more willing to try and give shows runs. I don't know if there are differences in prices, it's just the mentality, or what but it also seems like it is A LOT more readily available to the general public. Whereas Broadway theatre is New York Theatre and yes the shows tour but unless it is a Hamilton, Wicked, Phantom, or Lion King it probably isn't going to get a multi-year run on tour with this day and age with possibilities of transferring to Broadway and then going back on tour. And the regional stuff... Unless you know about you don't know about it because it doesn't get the advertising.
Legally Blonde had a multi-year run and ran on tour multiple years in the UK. It was the Oliviero winner. It didn't even get to perform at the Tony's the year it was up for nominations... Heather's has had a second life and is thriving. Mostly because of ALW and CM (who are definitely problematic) you see regular tours and revivals of shows including a lot of R&H like Sound of Music and Oklahoma that you don't see often on Broadway.
WhyyyYyyYyYYYyyyYyyYYYYYY are rich people just allowed to just do WHATEVER THEY WANT
Excuse me after Broadway > West Emd comes Hamburg!!!! ♡♡ also I laughed so much at the opening line:D
This man has great delivery. If he isn't on the stage, he might think about it.
Very good narrative- If the money isn’t there - how will they recover the loss - love is agreeing with you ❤️
Saw the show twice and loved it.
As a writer and a fan of history-based theatre, this production had some issues structurally and artistically. The producers chose to focus on dance and spectacle, while reducing a race riot that killed hundreds to a brief monologue and an (admittedly amazing) 11 o’clock number sung by Joaquina Kulakango. The huge cast, expensive moving set pieces, and neverending musical numbers were designed to make the show splashy and commercially appealing, but it ultimately made the budget unsustainable. Any respectable producer would have closed down the show after a few weeks of poor grosses, but as we all know, Drabinsky is anything but respectable. What surprises me is that so many people agreed to work with and for a man with a known criminal record for fraud. Earlier this year he pulled the same thing with an Off-Broadway show called Emojiland. It goes to show, you really have to be careful who you get in bed with in this industry.
oh mannnnn, I remember watching the emojiland tour crash and burn under this guy. I’ve been a fan of the show since its off broadway run, and at this point have talked with a few castmates about the drama as well. the tour was non-union and almost completely unmarketed , like straight up theatres were giving away tickets. iirc one of the theatres had only sold four tickets. when they announced the tour’s cancellation they said they’d do one performance and stream it, but I highly doubt even that’ll happen given half of the cast is shit talking management online now (as they should). I was in the official discord when the cancellation announcement dropped, genuinely one of the wildest situations I’ve witnessed up close in real time
Broadway in NYC is number 1. Even West End actors wants to be in NYC for Broadway.
I another note about paradise, is bringing, into the woods, back to Broadway. It’s brilliant. I’m sure it will win every Tony it’s nominated for, best revile should be a shoo in. It’s brought a lot of tourist back to see that stellar cast (me being one) 8 weeks sold out quickly. Not to boast 🤣 but, I was lucky enough to sit center stage front row. Their soundtrack comes in September.
Wait, ragtime failed commercially?
Yes! It cost over ten million dollars to produce and that's not including how much it cost to physically run the show day after day. Despite running for over 800 performances, there was no way that Ragtime was ever going to recoup its original investment, unless it ran for longer.
he can produce shows with non- equity actors......
and he has the financial means to produce
and paradice sq. was not a show that would attract families.....the subject matter was not one to interest tourists........and the ticket costs were never reduced to attract tourists....
I snagged a discounted ticket to PS at the end of April, shortly after it returned from its COVID hiatus. The audience seemed to be filled with friends of the show, based on pre-show interactions between several groups and people in the pit (I literally had a front row seat to to witness it). Their reactions to the show were very loud and supportive.
Mine was mixed. The actors all turned in fine performances of material that didn't deserve it. The show wants to do and wants to be about too much. The Civil War-era black experience and the Irish experience among the community aren't blended well by the direction, the book, or the score. The choreo was fantastic and illustrative of the two main styles and did the best "blending" of the competing cultural elements. The set is colossal, and too large for the tiny Barrymore stage. (For context, the last tenant at the Barrymore was The Inheritance.)
To your other question, the show doesn't stack up well against other Garth productions I've seen. (Phantom in Toronto, Ragtime in Toronto, Spider Woman on tour, Parade on tour.) The difference is evident in the collaborators of those shows vs. PS. You had the likes of Hal Prince, Kander & Ebb, Ahrens & Flaherty, Jason Robert Brown, ALW, among other "name" designers and creatives back then. I did geek out about Jason Howland as composer (also conducting the performance), based on his history with Jekyll & Hyde. Sadly, the score was middle of the road for me.
Thank goodness for the mask mandate at the time, as it spared the cast seeing my generally perplexed expression during the majority of the show.
I honestly don't think the closing number was anything special--despite Joaquina blowing the roof of the theatre with her performance--and the problem lies in the song itself, and the poor job it does of storytelling.
My opinions about PS may be unpopular, but it was a perplexing and mediocre evening of theatre. The lawsuits are likely to preclude the opportunity of a tour, so I don't see much of a life for this show after the gossip dies down.
I saw this show in its pre-Broadway run in Chicago. Overall I thought that Joaquina and the choreography were the main stand outs and I felt that the music was repetitive and got boring. However, the story is really interesting and I wonder what it would've developed into with better producers. I think it was really promising and I wish they could start over because all of the talent and the creatives were clearly doing great work.
WOW..I WAS WONDERING WHY IT SHUT DOWN SO FAST....
I was supposed to c this show with my theater troop but it closed a week before we could still mad
I never thought about the similarities between Garth and Max!
Show business. 😢. Revival! Bravo!🎉 encore!❤
P.s. you're cute, mickey jo.-- Oklahoma docent. Lol.❤
Great video ,sending you cooling thoughts your way....
I would love to hear your reaction to the cast recording
The show is too long, the book is too convoluted, and there are too many characters. These issues should've been addressed/corrected before mounting it on Broadway, because buried under all of it are the makings of a great show. That said, even had that been done and the show was a popular hit that made a killing, it's doubtful the environment would have been much better for the cast and crew under the thumb of Drabinsky's toxicity. Imagine going to prison all those years and not learning A DAMN THING. It's mind-boggling.
Disagree with your view of the show, but agree with your view of Drabinsky.
Saw it two days ago, and all I have to show is that this show deserved so much better. The best show I’ve seen in the last five years.
ALSO edit after I’ve watched a bit more of the video: the national tour is already in early development for 2023-24!
2:21 i would listen to the entire doc if you made one hahahah
I worked in the group sales department of Livent for its last two years of existence. I'd heard stories about Darth-er, I mean Garth-flinging tape dispensers and staplers at people working in his office and at executives during board meetings up on the sixth floor, but since I was the lowest of the low working on the third floor, that really didn't affect me.
One morning I got in the elevator and Drabinsky limped in after me. Now, I had been warned that one must never make eye contact with Himself, much less talk to him, but I've always thought, well, a cat can look at a king and I'll talk to anyone because I just don't give a fuck. So I asked him how things were going, and he was actually quite approachable. I mentioned that I'd bought his autobiography. He asked me how I liked it and I said it was very enlightening and I definitely got my money's worth. I hadn't the heart to tell him that the book was from the remainder bin and only cost me $4.95. I asked him if he'd like to autograph it for me, and he told me to bring it up to his office and leave it with his secretary and he'd be happy to sign it. So I did, and he did.
On the whole, I didn't really enjoy working at Livent all that much. Arranging tour groups for _Phantom_ seemed meaningless, especially since I didn't even like the show. Plus I hated sales, and the pay was shit. But I did get free tickets to _Show Boat_ (loved it), _Sunset Boulevard_ (meh, the scenery was gorgeous), and _Smoky Joe's Cafe_ (hated it, left at intermission) and I saw a lot of shows in their early stages for free, like _Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, Parade,_ and _Fosse,_ and met people like Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon, Brent Carver, Carolee Carmello, Hal Prince, Ahrens & Flaherty, and Jason Robert Brown.
At the end, when all the legal nonsense was going down and it was clear the company was going bankrupt, the general manager of Livent summoned us all to the sixth floor board room after lunch one Friday in mid-December, and told us our jobs would be finished at the end of that day. As we were all filing out, I yelled back over my shoulder, "Well, merry fucking Christmas, Dan!" My supervisor was scandalized by that, but I said to him, "What's he going to do? Fire me?"
I saw Paradise Square during it's previews. The show stopped 3 times for technical difficulties. I had never seen this happen on Broadway. I know it can happen but 3 times didn't bode well. I think the story had too many characters and you could have eliminated the Stephen Foster subplot. Totally unnecessary. Great idea executed poorly. Too bad many good performances.
The fact this masterpiece was so poorly managed is a tragedy.