Opening Date

Apr 10, 1984

Closing Date

MusicalOriginalNational Tour
External Links
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ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Setting
Mid-19th century. The rural south.
Comments
"This piece is a celebration of our survival in the midst of our pain, and of our shared joy in spite of the pain." - Vinnette Carroll
Produced by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The American National Theatre and Academy and Art Squires; Produced in association with Barbara Productions, Anita MacShane and Urban Arts Theatre (Anita MacShane, Producing Director)
Originally produced July 14 to August 14, 1983 at The Coconut Grove Playhouse (Arnold Mittelman, Producing Artistic Director)
Entire Production Conceived by Vinnette Carroll; Original Music by H. B. Barnum, Cleavant Derricks and Clinton Derricks-Carroll; Original Lyrics by H. B. Barnum, Cleavant Derricks and Cleavant Derricks; Conceived from the works of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Lindamichellebaron, Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni; Arrangements, Dance and Incidental Music by H. B. Barnum
Entire Production Directed by Vinnette Carroll; Choreographed by Michele Simmons
Scenic Design by Lawrence Miller; Costume Design by Dona Granata; Lighting Design by Richard Winkler; Sound Design by Robert Kerzman
Executive Producer: Robert S. Fishko
Production Stage Manager: Scott W. Glenn; Stage Manager: Jay Tompkins
Musical Conductor: Charles Johnson; Musical Supervisor: H. B. Barnum; Assistant to Ms. Carroll: Jerry Campbell; Music Contractor: Mel Rodnon
Casting: Joel Michael Simon; General Press Representative: Burnham-Callaghan Associates and Owen Levy Associates
Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter
Winston
Nora Cole
Rachel
Martron Gales
Zack
Jamil Garland
Ike Johnson
L. Michael Gray
Lucius White
Tommy Hollis
John Cesar Higgins
Linda James
Abigail
Joyce Little
Miss Lucinda
Janice Nunn Nelson
Sarah
Stephen Semien
Joshua
David Sharpe
Jamie
Beth Shorter
Ada
Ron Taltron
Trina Thomas
Tildy Scott
Marilynn Winbush
Malindy
Swings: Cisco Drayton and Allison Manson
Understudies: Martron Gales (Ike Johnson), Jamil Garland (Lucius White, Winston), Janice Nunn Nelson (Tildy Scott), Stephen Semien (John Cesar Higgins) and Beth Shorter (Rachel, Miss Lucinda, Malindy)
music by Cleavant Derricks, Clinton Derricks-Carroll and H. B. Barnum; lyrics by Cleavant Derricks, Clinton Derricks-Carroll and H. B. Barnum
Act 1
Sung By
Lord, Hear Your Child A-Callin'
Jamie and Sarah
The Colored Band
Company
The Dance
Ike Johnson and Company
Jealous
Rachel and Miss Lucinda
Protest
John Cesar Higgins
The Party
Company
A Frolic
Ike Johnson and Company
Itching Heels
John Cesar Higgins
Discovered
Miss Lucinda and Rachel
Did You Feed My cow?
Company
Encouragement
Malindy and Ike Johnson
A Negro Love Song
Ike Johnson
Song for a Banjo Dance
Ike Johnson
Little Liza Jane
Company
When Malindy Sings
Company
On My Journey Now
Malindy
Ain't Got Time To Die
Malindy and The Company
Rockin' Jerusalem
Malindy and Company
Ride Up In The Chariot
Malindy and Company
Ride On, King Jesus
Malindy and Company
Come on Down to the River
John Cesar Higgins and Company
No More Auction Block
Sarah
We Raise the Wheat
Company
Lost in the Wilderness
Tildy Scott
Temptation
Ike Johnson
Movin' Up To Higher Ground
Lucius White and Company
An Ante-Bellum Sermon
John Cesar Higgins
My Lord is So High
Company
Act 2
Sung By
We Wear the Mask
Company
We're Here
Company
Unpoem/I've Known Rivers
Company
These Are the Blues
Ada, Zack, Rachel and Miss Lucinda
Don't Play Me No Blues
Sarah
I Got the Blues
Ada, Tildy Scott and Miss Lucinda
How Can You Fix Your Mouth?
Lucius White
Fat Man Blues
Lucius White
Why I Went Off My Diet
Tildy Scott
Elegy for a Lady
Ada
Wake
Miss Lucinda
Something's Going On
Tildy Scott and Company
Dance to That
Joshua
Club Heaven
Winston
My Man
Tildy Scott
Who Loves You, Baby?
Company
Confession
Malindy
My Man was Here Today
Tildy Scott
I Like the Body
John Cesar Higgins
Myth
Ada
When I Do My Thing
Winston and Abigail
You're the One
Winston
Look at that Gal
Winston
Because
Winston
A Funny Thing
Winston
Blue Rendezvous
Winston and Miss Lucinda
Ignorance
Rachel
Zerox
Rachel
I'm Just Looking
Miss Lucinda
There You Are
John Cesar Higgins and Miss Lucinda
Letter From a Wife
Rachel
No Good Night/Autumn Poem
John Cesar Higgins and Miss Lucinda
To Mareta
John Cesar Higgins and Miss Lucinda
Kidnap Poem
John Cesar Higgins
The Way I Feel
Miss Lucinda
Reaching Back
Rachel, Miss Lucinda and John Cesar Higgins
Talking About Love
Rachel, Miss Lucinda and John Cesar Higgins
Benign Neglect
Rachel
I Thought You Knew/Tried Me a River
John Cesar Higgins and Rachel
A Trip
Miss Lucinda
Even You Must Realize
Rachel
Lullaby
John Cesar Higgins
Power Child
Rachel
Alone
Miss Lucinda
That Last Good-Bye
John Cesar Higgins
I Am Here
Rachel and Miss Lucinda
There's No More Looking Back
Rachel and Miss Lucinda
Leadership Dearth
Tildy Scott and Company
Harlem
Company
The Gospel Truth
Rachel and John Cesar Higgins
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Engagement Dates

Theatre

City and State

May 03, 1984 - May 27, 1984
Eisenhower Theatre
Washington, DC
Apr 10, 1984 - Apr 29, 1984
Forrest Theatre
Philadelphia, PA