MusicalComedyOriginalBroadway
Opening Date
Mar 15, 1970
Closing Date
Nov 06, 1971
Previews
28
Performances
688
MusicalComedyOriginalBroadway
External Links
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ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Theatres
Broadway Theatre
(Mar 15, 1970 - Dec 15, 1970)
Winter Garden Theatre
(Dec 16, 1970 - Mar 13, 1971)
ANTA Playhouse
(Mar 15, 1971 - Nov 06, 1971)
Setting
South Georgia. Not too long ago.
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization
Produced by Philip Rose
Music by Gary Geld; Lyrics by Peter Udell; Book by Ossie Davis, Peter Udell and Philip Rose; Based on "Purlie Victorious" by Ossie Davis; Music orchestrated by Garry Sherman and Luther Henderson; Choral arrangements by Luther Henderson and Garry Sherman; Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson; Additional arrangements by Ray Wright
Directed by Philip Rose; Choreographed by Louis Johnson
Scenic Design by Ben Edwards; Lighting Design by Thomas Skelton; Costume Design by Ann Roth; Hair Design by Ernest Adler; Assistant to Ann Roth: Robert Pusilo; Assistant to Thomas Skelton: Shirley Prendergast; Sound Design by Robert Liftin
General Manager: Helen Stern Richards
Production Stage Manager: Leonard Auerbach; Stage Manager: Mortimer Halpern; Assistant Stage Mgr: Charles Briggs
Musical Supervisor: Garry Sherman; Conducted by Joyce Brown; Music Contractor: Gary Chester; Rehearsal Pianist: Patty Brown
Press Representative: Merle Debuskey and Faith Geer; Dance Captain: Harold Pierson; Asst. to the Choreographer: Mabel Robinson; Casting: Lynda Watson; Advertising: Blaine-Thompson and Ingram Ash
John Heffernan
Ol' Cap'n
Cleavon Little
Purlie
Melba Moore
Lutiebelle
C. David Colson
Charlie
Sherman Hemsley
Gitlow
Linda Hopkins
Church Soloist
Helen Martin
Idella
Novella Nelson
Missy
Loretta Abbott
Dancer
Carolyn Byrd
Singer
Barbara Christopher
Singer
Hope Clark
Dancer
Peter Colly
Singer
Morris Donaldson
Dancer
Denise Elliott
Singer
George Faison
Dancer
Judy Gibson
Dancer
Milt Grayson
Singer
Lavinia Hamilton
Dancer
Synthia Jackson
Singer
Mildred Lane
Singer
Tony Middleton
Singer
Al Perryman
Dancer
Harold Pierson
Dancer
Ray Pollard
Singer
Mildred Pratcher
Singer
Arlene Rowlant
Dancer
William Taylor
Dancer
Ella Thompson
Dancer
Larry Vickers
Dancer
Alyce Webb
Singer
Myrna White
Dancer
Understudies: Ted Goodridge (Swing Dancer), Linda Hopkins (Missy), Robert Jackson (Purlie), Synthia Jackson (Lutiebelle), Mildred Lane (Church Soloist), Ted Ross (Gitlow), Alyce Webb (Missy, Idella) and Curt Williams (Ol' Cap'n, Charlie)

Broadway Theatre (Mar 15, 1970 - Dec 15, 1970)

Assistant Stage Mgr: Jerry Laws

Cast

Deborah Allen
Broadway debut
Dancer
Vera Moore
Singer
Understudy: Morgan Freeman (Purlie)

Winter Garden Theatre (Dec 16, 1970 - Mar 13, 1971)

Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization

ANTA Playhouse (Mar 15, 1971 - Nov 06, 1971)

Theatre Owned / Operated by ANTA (Alfred de Liagre Jr: executive producer; Jean Dalrymple: executive director)

Cast

Robert Guillaume
Purlie
Patti Jo
Lutiebelle
Carol Jean Lewis
Missy
music by Gary Geld; lyrics by Peter Udell
Act 1
Sung By
Walk Him Up the Stairs
Company
New Fangled Preacher Man
Purlie
Skinnin' a Cat
Gitlow and Field Hands
Purlie
Lutiebelle
The Harder They Fall
Purlie and Lutiebelle
Charlie's Songs: The Barrels of War/The Unborn Love
Charlie
Big Fish, Little Fish
Ol' Cap'n and Charlie
I Got Love
Lutiebelle
Great White Father
Cotton Pickers
Skinnin' a Cat
Gitlow and Charlie
Down Home
Purlie and Missy
Act 2
Sung By
First Thing Monday Mornin'
Cotton Pickers
He Can Do It
Missy and Lutiebelle
The Harder They Fall (Reprise)
Gitlow, Lutiebelle and Missy
The World Is Comin' to a Start
Charlie and Company
Walk Him Up the Stairs (Reprise)
Company

Tony Award®

 

Best Musical

1970 Nominee
Book by Ossie Davis , Peter Udell and Philip Rose
Lyrics by Peter Udell
Produced by Philip Rose
Music by Gary Geld

Best Actor in a Musical

1970 Winner
Cleavon Little

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

1970 Winner
Melba Moore
 

Best Choreography

1970 Nominee
Choreographed by Louis Johnson
 

Best Direction of a Musical

1970 Nominee
Directed by Philip Rose

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Performance

1970 Winner
Cleavon Little and Melba Moore

Theatre World

Award

1970 Recipient
Melba Moore
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