FINAL Let It Burn- CLOSING NIGHT of Paradise Square (7/17/22)

Joaquina Kalukango performing Let It Burn from Paradise Square on closing night of the show, July 17, 2022.

[@keytar_minaudiere]

I worked on PSQ. I’m so glad her final performance was recorded and I wish a pro shot had been done of the show (was never gonna happen though). It’s one of the most profound pieces of theater I’ve ever worked on, and it was brought to life by some of the most incredible artists I have ever met.

[@brandonplays702]

God bless you❤

[@JorgeAl]

Why they closed the show?

[@thepickleballassociationofsand]

I was there for that last performance. I had seen it two days before and was blown away. That last performance was the best I've ever seen. I so wanted to record it but was afraid and did not want to disturb the folks around me. I was 7-8 rows back in the center. I wish I had recorded it. I wish it was pro shot as well. I would paid a lot of money for that recording. As long as it went to the caste and crew!

[@jma9lber549]

What was the reason it would’ve never been professionally recorded?

[@hhhcubed2802]

​@@jma9lber549It was a disaster behind the scenes. I recommend looking around and reading about it. My heart goes out to that cast and crew

[@shoshanabeanshat8220]

5:30 “that was fuckin crazy!” sums it up perfectly. what a voice! i hope she has a long and happy career in showbiz! very sad to have seen paradise square go before i could experience it myself

[@AJKoehler]

I had heard an audio of this, and was volleying with justification as to why the audience kept cheering in the bridge- after seeing the visual, Joaquina is gesturing to the company. They were safer from the producer not doing this piece, but their love for eachother, their work and this story left them no choice but to do it.

[@RobinHood-xx4ol]

Yup. With the context of why the show closed and all the bad happenings behind the curtain, this song really rings differently, and Joaquina Kalukango made sure to put an emphasis on that, vocally and gesturally.

[@AlanNJUSA]

True. It was a simple yet powerful gesture.

[@dickginkowski6071]

@@RobinHood-xx4ol I was there up front and there was no question it was the performance of a lifetime and with messages.

[@somethingfunny5571]

It’s powerful both in the story and in real life. Truly a masterpiece

[@thepickleballassociationofsand]

@@dickginkowski6071 I too was up front and was totally floored by the performance. Incredible.

[@gracebaumgarten3926]

I saw the show the Thursday before this closing weekend. It was also incredibly explosive and the ovation lasted a very long time as well. My friend and I met her after the show and we spoke about how everyone in the audience including us were in tears..she truly looked moved and almost a little disbelieving. I told her she was going to have to get used to being adored! She was teary.. she is so young! And petite. And larger than life on that stage!

[@nicoletteaarons8241]

This is something else. Man this is just…. There are no words for this type of talent and emotion. This show is just phenomenal!

[@AlanNJUSA]

Phenomenal! Everyone in the audience was crying as Joaquina’s tears kept flowing.

[@thepickleballassociationofsand]

@@AlanNJUSA I was there. 7 rows back center orchestra and almost fell off my seat with this performance. Most amazing thing I have seen or heard in any play. Incredible.

[@RobinHood-xx4ol]

@@thepickleballassociationofsand hope you’re okay! And yeah we all definitely had that feeling

[@RobinHood-xx4ol]

@@AlanNJUSA yeah

[@dickginkowski6071]

@@thepickleballassociationofsand You were next to me??? Performance of a lifetime.

[@lpinckney8646]

It would be great if Oprah and the producers of A Color Purple could come together and revive this show. The marketing was horrendous from the start. I almost didn't go to see it but since I had tickets and didn't want them to go to waste I went. Sat front row and was blown away. The entire production and story was outstanding. I have been going to theater for 6 decades and trust this was an amazing show. All the best to the cast and crew.

[@notyanorm11]

Maybe we can make some attempts to get the attention of Oprah and Tyler Perry, maybe even Lin-Manuel Miranda expressing the enthusiastic support for this story and the extreme desire of theatre fans to see this treasure revived and have a new life breathed into it by a more appreciative and deserving artist

[@SEH221]

that is 2 full minutes of applause. holy cow

[@TravelwithTasha393]

I am very fortunate to have seen this in Chicago in 2021 while they were there before coming to broadway. I mean, this was so powerful! We also gave her an ovation that lasted a couple of mins there.

[@jscho8674]

I'm crushed that I didn't get to hear her do this song live and in person. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this.

[@RobinHood-xx4ol]

Of course :) just as the username suggests, I wanna give to those who couldn’t get

[@jscho8674]

@@RobinHood-xx4ol That makes me like you even more!!!!!!

[@drl896]

Omg... I am so happy I found this video. I LOVED paradise square with all my heart. I saw it 5 times, and sat front row closing night. The energy in that theater that night was a once in a lifetime thing, and I'm so so glad there's something to help me recreate that night.

[@darklordlc]

I saw this Wednesday before. She absolutely leveled the place. The emotion of what was happening to them was palpable.

[@Outthehouseprod]

😭 the best show I’ve seen in a generation. What the cast created for me is something I’ll take with me forever

[@brucegoolsby1470]

I was hoping to see this show before it closed. I had friends who saw it and they raved about it. I hope they somehow find a way to bring it back.

[@bbcbbc1717]

Words have such extra meaning given this last performance and all the drama behind the scenes.

[@MM-cy1tc]

Care to elaborate?

[@gwynfromRARE]

@@MM-cy1tc far too much for a youtube comment section.

[@MM-cy1tc]

@@gwynfromRARE A few hints? Are you talking cast or technical? The show that I went to they had to stop the show to correct a technical issue for about seven minutes. Kinda crazy!

[@gwynfromRARE]

@@MM-cy1tc The producer got put in jail I think, leaving the entire cast and crew unpaid, crew paying out of pocket, not enough swings, someone lost a finger on the set, i believe a cast member committed suicide, and so, so much more.

[@MM-cy1tc]

@@gwynfromRARE My God!

[@sorchamccarrey]

watching her is an entire workout, i'm breathing all heavy and my heart's beating out of my chest like i've just finished a marathon by the end of the song. so thrilling and the context makes it even more incredible

[@MM-cy1tc]

I saw the show and I have never jumped out of my seat so fast in a Broadway show!

[@garettap]

Me when I accidentally spray cologne on after shaving

[@RobinHood-xx4ol]

lol I’m obsessed with this comment.

[@durellgriffin3399]

This comment has way too little likes 🤣🤣

[@slisacorbett1543]

I 😢 saw this show 2 weeks before it closed. THEY NEED TO REVIVE IT! It was amazing!

[@notyanorm11]

I have ceremoniously listened to this multiple times daily since coming across it earlier this year, and it is always vehemently impactful and moving for me. So after reading the story of the reason the show was canceled, I’ve become curious about the opinions of other theater enthusiasts who can genuinely appreciate the beauty that is this production. My thought is if it’s a realistic idea to consider recruiting enough true theater fans were able to raise money to buy the rights to and revive this masterpiece? I open to honest opinions, I’m not familiar with anything of this nature has ever been attempted, so I’m curious.

[@ER-uy7ct]

Fabulous. Just fabulous.

[@dhank6933]

She is amazing

[@dzpatnmiami]

Sing tf DAOOWWNNN!!!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@brandonplays702]

❤❤❤

[@kareneastman9695]

:-O:-OWow.This song is so great.I love the video.

[@dennisthorne1504]

Bring this to London

[@ragtmt15]

Never will after all the drama surrounding this show

[@destineeallen88]

See they would have kicked me out. Cuz I would have been screaming and shouting!!

[@user-eb1bk6gi4r]

Step back chilina ….step back

[@dickginkowski6071]

Easy. It's OK. She's the mama bear for the cast in the script and in real life. Joaquina is the soul, Chilna is the heart. Literally.

[@glsweeney721]

Ugh can she go on the tour too? I can't imagine anyone else doing this song.

[@20maximilian03]

based on the drama surrounding the broadway production i cant see a tour happening any time soon

[@glsweeney721]

@@20maximilian03 I will start a go fund me so this thing can tour

[@mmhendx6439]

Is there a deal that can be worked out possibly for the recording of the show?

[@RobinHood-xx4ol]

How do you mean?

[@mmhendx6439]

@@RobinHood-xx4olIf you are willing to share the show and want something in return. We can work out details over email if you want (it’s in my channel description).

[@Analblockage]

Unfortunately, there is no way this show will be filmed legally. The show has been bleeding money since the beginning, so there is no way they have the funds to do something like that.

[@dickginkowski6071]

@@Analblockage Actually, there may be a way and that may be it. Film and production rights could help offset debts and pay the cast.

[@Analblockage]

@@dickginkowski6071 They literally had set pieces out in front of the theater after the final performance. There will be no tour. I'm sorry but there is no way in hell this gets filmed.

[@kareneastman9695]

Hamilton is a great musical .:-O:-):-D:-D🙂😀

[@AlanNJUSA]

Tour de force! Absolutely earthshaking! ❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼