MusicalOriginalBroadway
Opening Date
Oct 31, 1957
Closing Date
Apr 11, 1959
Performances
555
MusicalOriginalBroadway
External Links
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ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Theatres
Imperial Theatre
(Oct 31, 1957 - Apr 11, 1959)
Description
A musical in two acts
Setting
Pigeon Island, a mythical island off Jamaica. Time, the present.
Comments
On layoff from June 28 - August 11, 1958.
Produced by David Merrick
Book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy; Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg; Musical Direction, Continuity, and Vocals by Lehman Engel; Dance Music and Additional Vocals by Peter Matz; Music orchestrated by Philip J. Lang
Directed by Robert Lewis; Choreographed by Jack Cole
Scenic Design by Oliver Smith; Costume Design by Miles White; Lighting Design by Jean Rosenthal; Hair Stylist: Ernest Adler; Assistant to Oliver Smith: Robert O'Hearn; Assistant to Miles White: Florence Klotz and Michael Travis; Assistant to Ernest Adler: Paul Penzo; Sound Consultant: Saki Oura
General Manager: Jack Schlissel; Company Manager: Vince McKnight
Production Stage Manager: Neil Hartley; Stage Manager: Charles Blackwell; Assistant Stage Mgr: Alan Shayne and James E. Wall
Orchestra Personnel Manager: Sol Gusikoff
General Press Representative: Harvey B. Sabinson; Press Representative: David Powers; Advertising: Blaine-Thompson and Fred Golden; Assistant to Mr. Merrick: David M. Pelham; Assistant to Mr. Lewis: Judd Mathison; Assistant to Jack Cole: Walter Nicks
Lena Horne
Savannah
Ricardo Montalban
Koli
Adelaide Hall
Grandma Obeah
Josephine Premice
Ginger
Joe Adams
Joe Nashua
Alvin Ailey
Lead Dancer
Ethel Ayler
Island Woman
 
Islander
Adelaide Boatner
Island Woman
 
Islander
George Boreland
Islander
Hugh Bryant
Islander
Herb Coleman
Islander
Jayne Craddock
Islander
Ossie Davis
Cicero
Hugh Dilworth
Hucklebuck
 
Islander
Norma Donaldson
Islander
Patricia Dunn
Islander
Doris Galiber
Islander
Frank Glass
Islander
Harold Gordon
Islander
Lavinia Hamilton
Islander
Sandra Hinton
Islander
Nat Horne
Islander
Albert Johnson
Islander
Chailendra Jones
Islander
Cristyne Lawson
Lead Dancer
Tony Martinez
1st Ship's Officer
 
Islander
Audrey Mason
Islander
Jim McMillan
Islander
Charles Moore
Islander
Sally Neal
Islander
Pearl Reynolds
Islander
Erik Rhodes
The Governor
Allen Richards
Dock Worker
 
Islander
Augustine Rios
Quico
Alan Shayne
Radio Announcer
Christine Spencer
Islander
Carolyn Stanford
Islander
Claude Thompson
Islander
Roy Thompson
Snodgrass
 
Islander
Ben Vargas
Islander
Jacqueline Walcott
Islander
James E. Wall
Lancaster
Billy Wilson
Islander
Barbara Wright
Islander
Michael Wright
2nd Ship's Officer
 
Islander
Understudies: Ethel Ayler (Savannah), Charles Blackwell (Joe Nashua), Adelaide Boatner (Grandma Obeah), Hugh Bryant (Radio Announcer, Koli), Virginia Capers (Grandma Obeah), Herb Coleman (Quico), Alan Shayne (Koli, The Governor), Roy Thompson (Joe Nashua), Jacqueline Walcott (Ginger) and James E. Wall (Cicero)

Imperial Theatre (Oct 31, 1957 - Apr 11, 1959)

Musical Director: Sherman Frank
Assistant to Mr. Merrick: Eduard Fuller

Cast

Hugh Bryant
Radio Announcer
Gloria Higdon
Islander
Alan Shayne
The Governor
Sherman Sneed
Hucklebuck
Ella Thompson
Islander
Royce Wallace
Islander
music by Harold Arlen; lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Act 1
Sung By
Savannah
Koli and Fishermen
Savannah's Wedding Day
Grandma Obeah and Islanders
Pretty to Walk With
Savannah
Push the Button
Savannah
Incompatibility
Koli, Quico and Island Men
Little Biscuit
Cicero and Ginger
Cocoanut Sweet
Grandma Obeah and Savannah
Pity the Sunset
Koli and Savannah
Yankee Dollar
Ginger and Islanders
What Good Does It Do?
Koli, Cicero and Quico
Monkey in the Mango Tree
Koli and Fishermen
Take It Slow, Joe
Savannah
Ain't It the Truth
Savannah
Act 2
Sung By
Leave the Atom Alone
Ginger and Islanders
Cocoanut Sweet (Reprise)
Savannah
For Every Fish
Grandma Obeah and Fishermen
I Don't Think I'll End It All Today
Savannah, Koli and Islanders
Napoleon
Savannah
Ain't It the Truth (Reprise)
Savannah and Islanders
Savannah (Reprise)
Savannah, Koli and Islanders

Tony Award®

 

Best Musical

1958 Nominee
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy
Music by Harold Arlen
Produced by David Merrick
 

Best Actor in a Musical

1958 Nominee
Ricardo Montalban
 

Best Actress in a Musical

1958 Nominee
Lena Horne
 

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

1958 Nominee
Ossie Davis
 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

1958 Nominee
Josephine Premice
 

Best Scenic Design

1958 Nominee
Scenic Design by Oliver Smith
 

Best Costume Design

1958 Nominee
Costume Design by Miles White
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