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Purlie   

 
Broadway Theatre , (3/15/1970 - 12/15/1970)
Winter Garden Theatre , (12/16/1970 - 3/13/1971)
ANTA Playhouse , (3/15/1971 - 11/06/1971)
First Preview: Total Previews:28
Opening Date:Mar 15, 1970   
Closing Date:Nov 06, 1971 Total Performances:688

Category: Musical, Comedy, Original, Broadway
Setting: South Georgia. Not too long ago.


Production Staff [See More]
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization
Produced by Philip Rose
Music by Gary Geld; Lyrics by Peter Udell; Book by Ossie Davis, Peter Udell and Philip Rose; Based on "Purlie Victorious" by Ossie Davis; Music orchestrated by Garry Sherman and Luther Henderson; Choral arrangements by Luther Henderson and Garry Sherman; Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson; Additional arrangements by Ray Wright
Directed by Philip Rose; Choreographed by Louis Johnson
Scenic Design by Ben Edwards; Lighting Design by Thomas Skelton; Costume Design by Ann Roth; Hair Design by Ernest Adler; Assistant to Ann Roth: Robert Pusilo; Assistant to Thomas Skelton: Shirley Prendergast; Sound Design by Robert Liftin
General Manager: Helen Stern Richards
Production Stage Manager: Leonard Auerbach; Stage Manager: Mortimer Halpern; Assistant Stage Mgr: Charles Briggs
Musical Supervisor: Garry Sherman; Conducted by Joyce Brown; Music Contractor: Gary Chester
Press Representative: Merle Debuskey and Faith Geer; Dance Captain: Harold Pierson; Asst. to the Choreographer: Mabel Robinson; Casting: Lynda Watson; Advertising: Blaine-Thompson and Ingram Ash
Cast
John Heffernan Ol' Cap'n
Cleavon Little Purlie
Melba Moore Lutiebelle
C. David Colson Charlie
Sherman Hemsley Gitlow
Linda Hopkins Church Soloist
Helen Martin Idella
Novella Nelson Missy
Loretta Abbott Dancer
Carolyn Byrd Singer
Barbara Christopher Singer
Hope Clark Dancer
Peter Colly Singer
Morris Donaldson Dancer
Denise Elliott Singer
George Faison Dancer
Judy Gibson Dancer
Milt Grayson Singer
Lavinia Hamilton Dancer
Synthia Jackson Singer
Mildred Lane Singer
Tony Middleton Singer
Al Perryman Dancer
Harold Pierson Dancer
Ray Pollard Singer
Mildred Pratcher Singer
Arlene Roland Dancer
William Taylor Dancer
Ella Thompson Dancer
Larry Vickers Dancer
Alyce Webb Singer
Myrna White Dancer
Understudies: Ted Goodridge (Swing Dancer), Linda Hopkins (Missy), Robert Jackson (Purlie), Synthia Jackson (Lutiebelle), Mildred Lane (Church Soloist), Ted Ross (Gitlow), Alyce Webb (Idella, Missy) and Curt Williams (Charlie, Ol' Cap'n)
1970 Tony Award® Best Musical
 Book by Ossie Davis, Peter Udell and Philip Rose; Music by Gary Geld; Lyrics by Peter Udell; Produced by Philip Rose [nominee]
1970 Tony Award® Best Actor in a Musical
winnerCleavon Little [winner]
1970 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Musical
winnerMelba Moore [winner]
1970 Tony Award® Best Choreography
 Louis Johnson [nominee]
1970 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical
 Philip Rose [nominee]
1970 Theatre World Award
winnerMelba Moore [winner]
1970 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance
winnerPerformer: Cleavon Little and Melba Moore [winner]
music by Gary Geld; lyrics by Peter Udell 
Purlie (Original Broadway Cast Recording) - Gary Geld

ACT 1Sung By
Walk Him Up the Stairs Company
New Fangled Preacher Man Purlie
Skinnin' a Cat Gitlow and Field Hands
Purlie Lutiebelle
The Harder They Fall Purlie and Lutiebelle
Charlie's Songs: The Barrels of War/The Unborn Love Charlie
Big Fish, Little Fish Ol' Cap'n and Charlie
I Got Love Lutiebelle
Great White Father Cotton Pickers
Skinnin' a Cat Gitlow and Charlie
Down Home Purlie and Missy
ACT 2Sung By
First Thing Monday Mornin' Cotton Pickers
He Can Do It Missy and Lutiebelle
The Harder They Fall (Reprise)Gitlow, Lutiebelle and Missy
The World Is Comin' to a Start Charlie and Company
Walk Him Up the Stairs (Reprise)Company