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Hallelujah, Baby!

January 01, 1970

Hallelujah, Baby! is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, and a book by Arthur Laurents. The show is "a chronicle of the African American struggle for equality during the [first half of the] 20th century."[1]

Hallelujah, Baby!
Original cast recording
MusicJule Styne
LyricsAdolph Green
Betty Comden
BookArthur Laurents
Productions1967 Broadway
2004 Arena Stage
George Street Playhouse
AwardsTony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Score

The musical premiered on Broadway in 1967 and made a young Leslie Uggams a star. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical. In 2004, Laurents restaged the show twice with the same cast, in Washington D.C at the Arena Stage and at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey, in order to update and streamline the story for modern sensibilities, and potentially move to New York for a full revival. The score was updated by Adolph Green's daughter, Amanda Green. Critics noted that although the score and performances were entertaining and had its merits, the book was still too outdated. [2][3]

Synopsis edit

Georgina is a talented, beautiful and ambitious African American woman, determined to have a career. Overcoming many obstacles, she rises to stardom. She makes her way through the Great Depression, World War II, and the beginning of the civil rights movement. Her mother advises her to "keep her place" as a maid on a South Carolina estate, but Georgina negotiates the blocks to stardom from her negative and opportunistic mother. She encounters the racism that pervades society and show business.

Two men vie for Georgina's attention. Harvey, who is white, is able to provide opportunities for her. Her fiancé, Clem, who is a black train porter, cannot help her on her journey. By the 1950s, she is a successful singer in an expensive night club. However, Clem, who became an Army captain and then a civil rights activist, challenges Georgina's life goals.

Original cast and characters edit

Character Broadway (1967)[4] Summer Stock Tour (1968)[5] Arena Stage (2004)[6] Off-Broadway (2018)[7]
Georgina Leslie Uggams Diana Sands Suzzanne Douglas Stephanie Umoh
Momma Lillian Hayman Rosetta LeNoire Ann Duquesnay Vivian Reed
Clem Robert Hooks Leon Bibb Curtiss Cook Jarran Muse
Mary Barbara Sharma Connie Danese Laurie Gamache Jennifer Cody
Harvey Allen Case Larry Keith Stephen Zinnato Tally Sessions
Mr. Charles / Timmy Frank Hamilton N/A
Mrs. Charles / Ethel Marilyn Cooper Betsy Langman N/A
Tip Winston DeWitt Hemsley Bernard Johnson Randy Donaldson Bernard Dotson
Tap Alan Weeks Mabel Robinson Gerry McIntyre Randy Donaldson

Musical numbers edit

"Witches Brew" had a tune that was recycled from "Call Me Savage," a song from a prior musical Fade Out – Fade In and was originally sung by Carol Burnett.

Productions edit

The musical opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on April 26, 1967, and closed on January 13, 1968, after 293 performances and 22 previews. It was directed by Burt Shevelove, choreographed by Kevin Carlisle, musical direction by Buster Davis, orchestrations by Peter Matz, with scenic design by William and Jean Eckart, costumes by Irene Sharaff and lighting by Tharon Musser. The production won five Tony Awards (out of nine nominations), including Best Musical, and Uggams and Hayman won the Tonys for Best Actress and Best Featured Actress, respectively, for their performances. This remains the only show to win the Tony for Best Musical after it closed.

Laurents' recollections edit

Arthur Laurents felt that "the original production was too soft in its take on black social progress during the first six decades or so of the twentieth century. It was originally written with Lena Horne in mind. When the steely Horne opted out of the project, it was rewritten to suit the more youthful and bubbly Leslie Uggams." In the 2004 production, Laurents attempted "to add levels of darker intensity.... However, the music and lyrics are in the infectiously bright and bubbly style of musical comedy, and his efforts in this area reduce the charm and good spirits of the show without adding much of significance in the way of depth or insight."[8] According to Laurents, after Lena Horne declined to do the show, "What we should have done is abandon the show.... Instead it was rewriten for a woman who is one of the nicest women I have ever met in the theatre, Leslie Uggams,--and, God knows, she has a beautiful voice ... she was good, but it wasn't that original show. The show lost its edge, and I must say I lost interest in it."[9]

Awards and nominations edit

Original Broadway production edit

Washington D.C production edit

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2005 Helen Hayes Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical Ann Duquesnay Won [10]
2005 Helen Hayes Awards Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical Suzzanne Douglas Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Chastang, Carol. "Review: 'Say Hallelujah!'" 2006-10-23 at the Wayback Machine seeingblack.com, January 7, 2005
  2. ^ New York Times Review Of Its Moment 1967accessed 7/15/2023
  3. ^ Variety Reviewaccessed 07/14/2023
  4. ^ Playbill 1967 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/14/2023
  5. ^ Playbill 1968 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/16/2023
  6. ^ Playbill 2004 Review Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/14/2023
  7. ^ Playbill 2018 Review Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/14/2023
  8. ^ Rendell, Bob. "Arthur Laurents Retools His Hallelujah, Baby!" broadwaytalk.com, c. October 2004, accessed September 3, 2009
  9. ^ Bryer, Jackson R. and Richard Allan Davison (2005). The Art of the American Musical: Conversations with the Creators, Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-3613-8, p. 133
  10. ^ Helen Hayes Awards 2005 Listaccessed 07/15/2023

    External links edit

    Listen to this article (5 minutes)
     
    This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 16 August 2019 (2019-08-16), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
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    • Hallelujah, Baby! at the IBDB database
    • Synopsis, song list and production at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
    • Hallelujah, Baby! at Stageagent.com

    January 01, 1970
    hallelujah, baby, musical, with, music, jule, styne, lyrics, adolph, green, betty, comden, book, arthur, laurents, show, chronicle, african, american, struggle, equality, during, first, half, 20th, century, original, cast, recordingmusicjule, stynelyricsadolph. Hallelujah Baby is a musical with music by Jule Styne lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden and a book by Arthur Laurents The show is a chronicle of the African American struggle for equality during the first half of the 20th century 1 Hallelujah Baby Original cast recordingMusicJule StyneLyricsAdolph GreenBetty ComdenBookArthur LaurentsProductions1967 Broadway2004 Arena StageGeorge Street PlayhouseAwardsTony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Score The musical premiered on Broadway in 1967 and made a young Leslie Uggams a star It won the Tony Award for Best Musical In 2004 Laurents restaged the show twice with the same cast in Washington D C at the Arena Stage and at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey in order to update and streamline the story for modern sensibilities and potentially move to New York for a full revival The score was updated by Adolph Green s daughter Amanda Green Critics noted that although the score and performances were entertaining and had its merits the book was still too outdated 2 3 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Original cast and characters 3 Musical numbers 4 Productions 5 Laurents recollections 6 Awards and nominations 6 1 Original Broadway production 6 2 Washington D C production 7 References 8 External linksSynopsis editGeorgina is a talented beautiful and ambitious African American woman determined to have a career Overcoming many obstacles she rises to stardom She makes her way through the Great Depression World War II and the beginning of the civil rights movement Her mother advises her to keep her place as a maid on a South Carolina estate but Georgina negotiates the blocks to stardom from her negative and opportunistic mother She encounters the racism that pervades society and show business Two men vie for Georgina s attention Harvey who is white is able to provide opportunities for her Her fiance Clem who is a black train porter cannot help her on her journey By the 1950s she is a successful singer in an expensive night club However Clem who became an Army captain and then a civil rights activist challenges Georgina s life goals Original cast and characters editCharacter Broadway 1967 4 Summer Stock Tour 1968 5 Arena Stage 2004 6 Off Broadway 2018 7 Georgina Leslie Uggams Diana Sands Suzzanne Douglas Stephanie Umoh Momma Lillian Hayman Rosetta LeNoire Ann Duquesnay Vivian Reed Clem Robert Hooks Leon Bibb Curtiss Cook Jarran Muse Mary Barbara Sharma Connie Danese Laurie Gamache Jennifer Cody Harvey Allen Case Larry Keith Stephen Zinnato Tally Sessions Mr Charles Timmy Frank Hamilton N A Mrs Charles Ethel Marilyn Cooper Betsy Langman N A Tip Winston DeWitt Hemsley Bernard Johnson Randy Donaldson Bernard Dotson Tap Alan Weeks Mabel Robinson Gerry McIntyre Randy DonaldsonMusical numbers editAct 1 Prologue Georgina Back in the Kitchen Momma My Own Morning Georgina The Slice Clem and Provers Farewell Farewell Calhoun Betty Loo Captain Yankee Georgina and Harvey Feet Do Yo Stuff Georgina Chorines Tip and Tap Watch My Dust Clem Smile Smile Clem Georgina and Momma Witches Brew Georgina Mary Ethel and Company Breadline Dance Bums Another Day Harvey Clem Mary and Georgina I Wanted to Change Him Georgina Being Good Isn t Good Enough Georgina Act 2 Dance Drill Tip Tap and G I s Talking to Yourself Georgina Clem and Harvey Limbo Dance Night Club Patrons Hallelujah Baby Georgina Tip and Tap Not Mine Harvey I Don t Know Where She Got It Momma Clem and Harvey Now s the Time Georgina Now s the Time Reprise Company Witches Brew had a tune that was recycled from Call Me Savage a song from a prior musical Fade Out Fade In and was originally sung by Carol Burnett Productions editThe musical opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on April 26 1967 and closed on January 13 1968 after 293 performances and 22 previews It was directed by Burt Shevelove choreographed by Kevin Carlisle musical direction by Buster Davis orchestrations by Peter Matz with scenic design by William and Jean Eckart costumes by Irene Sharaff and lighting by Tharon Musser The production won five Tony Awards out of nine nominations including Best Musical and Uggams and Hayman won the Tonys for Best Actress and Best Featured Actress respectively for their performances This remains the only show to win the Tony for Best Musical after it closed Laurents recollections editArthur Laurents felt that the original production was too soft in its take on black social progress during the first six decades or so of the twentieth century It was originally written with Lena Horne in mind When the steely Horne opted out of the project it was rewritten to suit the more youthful and bubbly Leslie Uggams In the 2004 production Laurents attempted to add levels of darker intensity However the music and lyrics are in the infectiously bright and bubbly style of musical comedy and his efforts in this area reduce the charm and good spirits of the show without adding much of significance in the way of depth or insight 8 According to Laurents after Lena Horne declined to do the show What we should have done is abandon the show Instead it was rewriten for a woman who is one of the nicest women I have ever met in the theatre Leslie Uggams and God knows she has a beautiful voice she was good but it wasn t that original show The show lost its edge and I must say I lost interest in it 9 Awards and nominations editOriginal Broadway production edit Year Award Category Nominee Result 1967 Theatre World Award Leslie Uggams Won 1968 Tony Award Best Musical Won Best Original Score Jule Styne Adolph Green and Betty Comden Won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Robert Hooks Nominated Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Leslie Uggams Won Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Lillian Hayman Won Best Direction of a Musical Burt Shevelove Nominated Best Choreography Kevin Carlisle Nominated Best Producer of a Musical Albert W Selden Hal James Jane C Nussbaum and Harry Rigby Won Best Costume Design Irene Sharaff Nominated Washington D C production edit Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref 2005 Helen Hayes Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress Resident Musical Ann Duquesnay Won 10 2005 Helen Hayes Awards Outstanding Lead Actress Resident Musical Suzzanne Douglas NominatedReferences edit Chastang Carol Review Say Hallelujah Archived 2006 10 23 at the Wayback Machine seeingblack com January 7 2005 New York Times Review Of Its Moment 1967accessed 7 15 2023 Variety Reviewaccessed 07 14 2023 Playbill 1967 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07 14 2023 Playbill 1968 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07 16 2023 Playbill 2004 Review Bio Cast Listaccessed 07 14 2023 Playbill 2018 Review Bio Cast Listaccessed 07 14 2023 Rendell Bob Arthur Laurents Retools His Hallelujah Baby broadwaytalk com c October 2004 accessed September 3 2009 Bryer Jackson R and Richard Allan Davison 2005 The Art of the American Musical Conversations with the Creators Rutgers University Press ISBN 0 8135 3613 8 p 133 Helen Hayes Awards 2005 Listaccessed 07 15 2023 Information about the musicalExternal links editListen to this article 5 minutes source source nbsp This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 16 August 2019 2019 08 16 and does not reflect subsequent edits Audio help More spoken articles Hallelujah Baby at the IBDB database Synopsis song list and production at guidetomusicaltheatre com Hallelujah Baby at Stageagent com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hallelujah Baby amp oldid 1165615817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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