New York Premiere of Paradise Blue Opens at Signature Theatre

The New York premiere of Dominique Morisseau's Paradise Blue opened Monday, May 14, at Signature Theatre. Paradise Blue is the first play of Morisseau's Signature Residency, which will include three productions over the course of five years. Performances continue through June 10 under the direction of Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

Paradise Blue is described as follows: "In 1949, Detroit's Blackbottom neighborhood is gentrifying. Blue, a troubled trumpeter and the owner of Paradise Club, is torn between remaining in Blackbottom with his loyal lover Pumpkin and leaving behind a traumatic past. But when the arrival of a mysterious woman stirs up tensions, the fate of Paradise Club hangs in the balance." The show had its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival during its 2015 season.

The Signature cast features Francois Battiste (Head of Passes), Kristolyn Lloyd (Dear Evan Hansen), Simone Missick (Luke Cage), J. Alphonse Nicholson (Luke Cage), and Keith Randolph Smith (Jitney).

The creative team includes Neil Patel (scenic dsesign), Clint Ramos (costume design), Rui Rita (lighting design), Darron L. West (sound design), Thomas Schall (fight direction), Kenny Rampton (original music), Bill Sims Jr. (music director), and Laura Wilson (production stage manager).