''Jamaica'' is a musical with a book by

Yip Harburg Edgar Yipsel Harburg (born Isidore Hochberg; April 8, 1896 – March 5, 1981) was an American popular song lyricist and librettist who worked with many well-known composers. He wrote the lyrics to the standards "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" ( ...

and

Fred Saidy Fred Saidy (February 11, 1907 – May 14, 1982) was an American playwright and screenwriter. Biography Born in Los Angeles, California, Saidy began his writing career in 1943 with the screenplay for the Red Skelton comedy '' I Dood It''. The ...

, lyrics by Harburg, and music by

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ...

. It is set on a small island off the coast of Jamaica, and tells about a simple island community fighting to avoid being overrun by American commercialism. Arlen's music parodies the popular form of Calypso, which was in vogue in the 1950s, largely as a result of the popularity of

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

, for whom the musical originally was written. Belafonte withdrew from the production due to illness, and the musical was tailored around the talents of

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years, appearing in film, television, and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of th ...

. Harburg was blacklisted in Hollywood at the time of the writing of the musical,Lorenz, Kathleen Phillis
"Spotlight on E.Y. "Yip" Harburg"
. 42ndstmoon.com and the satire is unusually pointed. Many of the topics raised in the songs, including evolution, nuclear energy, and consumerism, remain topical today.

Productions

Adelaide Hall bio (Jamaica souvenier program (1957)

The musical opened in Philadelphia. Later, it moved to Broadway, opening at the

Imperial Theatre The Imperial Theatre is a Broadway theater at 249 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1923, the Imperial Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was constructed fo ...

on October 31, 1957 and closed on April 11, 1959 after 558 performances. The musical was directed by Robert Lewis and produced by

David Merrick David Merrick (born David Lee Margoulis; November 27, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was an American theatrical producer who won a number of Tony Awards. Life and career Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick gradua ...

, with choreography by Jack Cole, scenic Design by Oliver Smith, costume design by

Miles White Miles E. White (July 27, 1914 – February 17, 2000) was a top costume designer of Broadway musicals for 25 years. He is known in the entertainment industry for his well rendered, prolific, imaginative and witty designs. He won recognition, in ...

and lighting design by

Jean Rosenthal Jean Rosenthal (born Eugenia Rosenthal; March 16, 1912May 1, 1969) is considered a pioneer in the field of theatrical lighting design. She was born in New York City to Romanian-Jewish immigrants. northern.edu, retrieved May 20, 2009Fippin, CaroBio ...

. The cast included

Ricardo Montalbán Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino, KSG (; ; November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009) was a Mexican and American film and television actor. Montalbán's career spanned seven decades, during which he became known for performances in a var ...

as Koli and

as Savannah, with

Ossie Davis Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He and his wife were named to the NAACP ...

as Cicero, Erik Rhodes as Governor,

Adelaide Hall Adelaide Louise Hall (20 October 1901 – 7 November 1993) was an American-born UK-based jazz singer and entertainer. Her long career spanned more than 70 years from 1921 until her death and she was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Hal ...

as Grandma Obeah, and

Josephine Premice Josephine Mary Premice (July 21, 1926 – April 13, 2001) was a Haitian-American actress and singer known for her work on the Broadway stage. Early life Josephine Mary Premice was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Thelomaine and Luca ...

as Ginger.

Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey Jr. (January 5, 1931 – December 1, 1989) was an American dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). He created AAADT and its affiliated Alvin Ailey American Dance Cente ...

was the principal dancer. The song "

Boy, Girl, and Island "Boy, Girl, and Island" is a 1957 American popular song with lyrics by Yip Harburg and music by Harold Arlen. Originally written for the musical ''Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, ...

" was originally written for the play, but was cut and replaced by "Take It Slow, Joe."Stanley Green, Encyclopedia of the Musical Theater (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1976) p. 216 An original cast recording was released by

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

Synopsis

Savannah, a beautiful island girl, longs to escape to New York City to live a life of modern conveniences. She is tempted to accept the marriage proposal of a New York businessman visiting the island. However, when Koli, an impoverished fisherman, saves her younger brother's life during a hurricane, she opts to remain with him.

Cast of characters (in order of appearance)

* Koli * Quico * Savannah * Grandma Obeah * Ginger * Snodgrass * Hucklebuck * Island Women * The Governor * Cicero * Lancaster * First Ship's Officer * Second Ship's Officer * Joe Nashua * Dock Worker * Radio Announcer

Song list

;Act I *Savannah *Savannah's Wedding Day *Pretty to Walk With *Push the Button *Incompatibility *Little Biscuit *Cocoanut Sweet *Pity the Sunset *Yankee Dollar *What Good Does It Do? *Monkey in the Mango Tree *Take It Slow, Joe *Ain't It the Truth ;Act II *Leave the Atom Alone *Coconut Sweet (Reprise) *For Every Fish *I Don't Think I'll End It All Today *Napoleon Is a Pastry *Ain't It the Truth (Reprise) *Savannah (Reprise)

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

References

External links

Internet Broadway Database listing
{{Authority control 1957 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals by Harold Arlen Jamaica in fiction