Imperial Theatre, (12/20/1981 - 8/11/1985)

Category: Musical, Original, Broadway
Setting: Act I: The early sixties. Act II: The early seventies. Various cities throughout the U.S.

Opening Night Production Credits 

Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization (Gerald Schoenfeld: Chairman; Bernard B. Jacobs: President)

Produced by Michael Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records and The Shubert Organization (Gerald Schoenfeld: Chairman; Bernard B. Jacobs: President)

Music by Henry Krieger; Book by Tom Eyen; Lyrics by Tom Eyen; Music orchestrated by Harold Wheeler; Musical Director: Yolanda Segovia; Vocal arrangements by Cleavant Derricks

Directed by Michael Bennett; Choreographed by Michael Bennett; Co - Choreographer: Michael Peters

Scenic Design by Robin Wagner; Assistant to Mr. Wagner: Linda Hacker; Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge; Associate Costume Designer: Frank Krenz; Lighting Design by Tharon Musser; Assistant to Ms. Musser: Gregg Marriner; Sound Design by Otts Munderloh; Hair Design by Ted Azar; Assistant to Mr. Munderloh: Cynthia J. Hawkins; Special Assistant to Ms. Aldredge: Suzy Benzinger and Woody Lane

General Manager: Marvin A. Krauss Associates, Inc., Eric M. Angelson, Gary Gunas and Steven C. Callahan; Management Associate: Joey Parnes

Production Stage Manager: Jeff Hamlin; Stage Manager: Zane Weiner and Frank di Filia; Technical Coordinator: Arthur Siccardi

Musical Supervisor: Harold Wheeler; Assistant Conductor: Nicholas Cerrato; Music Contractor: Seymour "Red" Press; Keyboards: Myles Chase; Drums: Brian Brake; Bass: Tinker Barfield; Guitars: Andrew Schwartz and Peter Strode; Music Preparation Supervisor: Mathilde Pincus, Al Miller and Bob Holloway

General Press Representative: Merle Debuskey; Press Representative: Diane Judge; Production Assistant: Charles Suisman; Advertising: Serino, Coyne & Nappi; Casting: OLAIYA; Casting Consultant: Johnson-Liff Associates; Asst. to the Choreographers: Geneva Burke; Miss Holliday's Fur by The Christie Brothers; Dance Captain: Brenda Braxton

Obba Babatundé	C.C. White
Cleavant Derricks	James Thunder Early
Loretta Devine	Lorrell Robinson
Ben Harney	Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Jennifer Holliday	Effie Melody White
Sheryl Lee Ralph	Deena Jones
Deborah Burrell	Michelle Morris
	One of "The Stepp Sisters"
Vondie Curtis-Hall	Marty
Tony Franklin	Wayne
David Thomé	Frank a press agent
Cheryl Alexander	Charlene
	One of "Les Style"
	Ensemble
Phylicia Ayers-Allen	Ensemble
Vanessa Bell	One of "The Stepp Sisters"
	Ensemble
Charles Bernard	One of "Little Albert and the Tru-Tones"
	One of "The James Early Band"
	One of "The Five Tuxedoes"
	Ensemble
Paul Binotto	Dave
	Film Executive
	Ensemble
Candy Darling	One of "The Sweethearts"
	Ensemble
Ronald Dunham	Ensemble
Stephanie Eley	One of "The Sweethearts"
	Ensemble
Sheila Ellis	Edna Burke
	Ensemble
Tenita Jordan	One of "The Stepp Sisters"
	One of "Les Style"
	Ensemble
Linda Lloyd	Joanne
	One of "Les Style"
	Ensemble
Joe Lynn	Tiny Joe Dixon
	Jerry a nightclub owner
	Ensemble
Frank Mastrocola	Ensemble
Jamie Patterson	One of "Little Albert and the Tru-Tones"
	One of "The James Early Band"
	One of "The Five Tuxedoes"
	Ensemble
Wellington Perkins	One of "Little Albert and the Tru-Tones"
	One of "The James Early Band"
	Ensemble
Scott Plank	One of "The James Early Band"
	Film Executive
	Ensemble
Brenda Pressley	One of "The Stepp Sisters"
	One of "Les Style"
	Ensemble
Charles Randolph-Wright	One of "Little Albert and the Tru-Tones"
	One of "The James Early Band"
	One of "The Five Tuxedoes"
	Ensemble
Larry Stewart	The M.C.
	One of "The Five Tuxedoes"
	Mr. Morgan
	Ensemble
David Thomé	Ensemble
Weyman Thompson	One of "Little Albert and the Tru-Tones"
	One of "The James Early Band"
	One of "The Five Tuxedoes"
	Film Executive
	Ensemble

Swings: Brenda Braxton, Milton Craig Nealy.

Understudies: Cheryl Alexander (Lorrell Robinson), Phylicia Ayers-Allen (Deena Jones), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Curtis Taylor, Jr.), Sheila Ellis (Effie Melody White), Tony Franklin (C.C. White), Linda Lloyd (Michelle Morris), Milton Craig Nealy (Jerry, Marty), Scott Plank (Frank), Larry Stewart (James Thunder Early), Weyman Thompson (Wayne).