s spring 2022 comes near, new shows are coming to Broadway.  These include Mr. Saturday Night, Paradise Square, and The Little Prince.  There are definitely many genres to explore this year.  

“After COVID-19, I haven’t been to any shows on Broadway, but I want to soon,”  said sophomore Olivia Silberman.   

The first new addition to Broadway is Mr. Saturday Night,  shown at Nederlander Theater.  Opening night was Mar. 31, where the audience saw a cast of Billy Crystal, Randy Graff, David Paymer, and Chasten Harmon.   The musical comedy is directed by John Rando, composed by Jason Robert Brown, with lyrics written by Amanda Green.  The show is based on the book written by Babaloo Mandel.  It tells the story of a bold comedian, Buddy Young Jr., who became famous when television was starting to become a staple in society.  After 40 years of being on TV, his relationship with his family was affected.  Young’s last time on television led him to rekindle his relationship with family and his career.  

“Thirty years later, Mr. Paymer and I don’t need the make-up,” Billy Crystal said to Deadline.  

Paradise Square is described as having choreography that is energetic and sends the message of hope.  Based on the book by Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan, the show is directed by Moisés Kaufman, choreographed by Bill T. Jones, and musical staging done by Alex Sanchez.  The music was created by Jason Howland, with lyrics written by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare.  The show is set in 1883 in a neighborhood known as “the Five Points” and is located in Manhattan, where Irish and Black Americans live together, sharing their cultures. 

“I am surprised I have never learned about the Five Points in Manhattan,”  said freshman Mariela Ortez.  

In Paradise Square, when the draft for the Civil War began, conflict rose as white men were drafted while black men were not subject to the same laws at the time.  The cast features actors Joaquina Kalukango, Chilina Kennedy, John Dossett, Sidney DuPont, A.J. Shively, Nathaniel Stampley, Gabrielle McClinton, Jacob Fishel, Kevin Dennis, and Matt Bogart.  The play raises an important question—will the draft during the Civil War causethe neighborhood’s sense of community and friendships to come to an end?  Paradise Square can be seen at the Ethel Barrymore Theater.   

Following productions in cities like Paris, Dubai, and Sydney, The Little Prince comes to New York on Broadway this spring.  The Little Prince is a classic, written in 1942 by Antoine de Saint-Expuery.  The stage adaptation will be shown at The Broadway Theater, which recently displayed the popular West-Side Story.  The adaptation features spectacle, dance, aerial acrobatics, and video mapping technology.  

“The combination of different areas of dance is fascinating because they are performing on a stage, so the acrobatics will be so unique to see,”  said Junior Lester Ayala.

Video mapping is when productions use technologies such as projectors.  Featuring flowy and detailed costumes, every character is personalized in their own way. Director Anne Tournié also choreographed The Little Prince.  

“We are thrilled for our company to continue The Little Prince’s world journey to the bright lights of Broadway and New York.  On his journey, the Little Prince shares a message of humanity with the many people and cultures he encounters.  We are humbled to bring his story of friendship, loneliness, love, and caring for others and our planet back to the melting pot where Antoine de Saint-Exupéry first created this beloved tale,” said Director Anne Tourié to Playbill.