Signature Extends Dominique Morisseau's PARADISE BLUE

The Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director; James Houghton, Founder) production of Paradise Blue by Obie Award-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau and directed by Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson has been extended one week, the company announced today. The production, which opens on May 14, will now run through June 10, 2018.

Paradise Blue is the first play of Morisseau's Signature Residency 5, which will include three productions over the course of five years. Performances begin on April 24 in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

This production of Paradise Blue features Obie Award-winner Francois Battiste (Head of Passes, "Ten Days in the Valley"), Kristolyn Lloyd (Dear Evan Hansen, The Liquid Plain), Simone Missick ("Luke Cage," "The Defenders"), J.Alphonse Nicholson ("Tales," "Luke Cage"), Keith Randolph Smith (Malcolm X, Jitney).

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. Paradise Blue is a thrilling and timely look at the changes a community endures to find its resilience.

The creative team includes Neil Patel (Scenic Design), Clint Ramos (Costume Design), Rui Rita (Lighting Design), Darron L West (Sound Design), Kenny Rampton (Original Music), Bill Sims, Jr. (Music Director), Charles G. LaPointe (Hair & Wig Design), Thomas Schall (Fight Director). Laura Wilson is the Production Stage Manager. Casting by Caparelliotis Casting.

Paradise Blue is generously supported by the Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater. Special thanks to Time Warner Foundation, Inc., The Michael and Betty Rauch Fund for Residency 5, and The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the Residency 5 Program. Dominique Morisseau's Residency 5 is generously supported, in part, by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Signature is also producing Our Lady of 121st Street, by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Phylicia Rashad, this spring, with performances set to begin on May 1, 2018. the company also recently announced programming for the 2018-19 Season, which will include plays by Will Eno, Athol Fugard, Dave Malloy, Lynn Nottage and Sam Shepard.

To purchase tickets for all Signature Productions or to subscribe to the 2018-19 Season, call Ticket Services at 212-244-7529 (Tues. - Sun., 11am - 6pm) or visit www.SignatureTheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Gregory Costanzo