Eubie!
Encyclopedia
Eubie! is a revue
featuring the music of Eubie Blake
, with lyrics
by Noble Sissle
, Andy Razaf, Johnny Brandon
, F.E. Miller, and Jim Europe.
, conceived and directed by Julianne Boyd
and choreographed by Billy Wilson and Henry LeTang
, opened on September 20, 1978 at the Ambassador Theatre
, where it ran for 439 performances. The cast included Alaina Reed, Lynnie Godfrey, and the Hines brothers, Gregory
and Maurice
. An original cast recording was released in 1979, but has not been released on CD.
The theater setting was designed to be reminiscent of the 20's, with "curlicued settings, dancers diving down a staircase in a pie-shaped wedge, a girl in a mantilla with a Spanish rose in her teeth". Many of the songs were from the Blake-Sissle 1921 show Shuffle Along. Among the songs were "Charleston Rag", "Daddy", "My Handyman Ain't Handy No More", "Gee, I Wish I Had Someone to Rock Me in the Cradle of Love", and "There's a Million Little Cupids in the Sky" (from the Blake-Sissle show "The Chocolate Dandies).
Act 1
Act 2
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
featuring the music of Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans...
, with lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
by Noble Sissle
Noble Sissle
Noble Sissle was an American jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer and playwright.-Early life:...
, Andy Razaf, Johnny Brandon
Johnny Brandon
Johnny Brandon is an English singer and songwriter, popular during the 1950s, who recorded for a number of labels. His perennial backing group was known as The Phantoms. His early hits included "Tomorrow" and "Don't Worry"...
, F.E. Miller, and Jim Europe.
Production
After seven previews, the Broadway productionBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, conceived and directed by Julianne Boyd
Julianne Boyd
Julianne Boyd is an American theater director.Boyd received a BA in Theater and Education in 1966 from Beaver College in Pennsylvania...
and choreographed by Billy Wilson and Henry LeTang
Henry LeTang
Henry LeTang was an American theatre,film, and television choreographer and a dance instructor.-Biography:Born in the Harlem neighbourhood of Manhattan, LeTang was the second son of Clarence, born in Dominica, and his wife Marie, who emigrated from St. Croix. The couple owned and operated a radio...
, opened on September 20, 1978 at the Ambassador Theatre
Ambassador Theatre (New York)
The Ambassador Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 219 West 49th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for the Shuberts, the structure is unusual in that it is situated diagonally on its site to fit the maximum number of...
, where it ran for 439 performances. The cast included Alaina Reed, Lynnie Godfrey, and the Hines brothers, Gregory
Gregory Hines
Gregory Oliver Hines was an American actor, singer, dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Born in New York City, Hines and his older brother Maurice started dancing at an early age, studying with choreographer Henry LeTang...
and Maurice
Maurice Hines
Maurice Hines is an American actor, director, jazz singer and choreographer.Born in New York City, Hines began his career at the age of five, studying tap dance at the Henry LeTang Dance Studio in Manhattan. LeTang recognized his talent and began choreographing numbers specifically for him and his...
. An original cast recording was released in 1979, but has not been released on CD.
The theater setting was designed to be reminiscent of the 20's, with "curlicued settings, dancers diving down a staircase in a pie-shaped wedge, a girl in a mantilla with a Spanish rose in her teeth". Many of the songs were from the Blake-Sissle 1921 show Shuffle Along. Among the songs were "Charleston Rag", "Daddy", "My Handyman Ain't Handy No More", "Gee, I Wish I Had Someone to Rock Me in the Cradle of Love", and "There's a Million Little Cupids in the Sky" (from the Blake-Sissle show "The Chocolate Dandies).
Songs
Prologue- Goodnight Angeline
- Charleston Rag
Act 1
- Shuffle AlongShuffle AlongShuffle Along is the first major successful African American musical. Written by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, with music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1921.-Plot:...
- In Honeysuckle Time
- I'm Just Wild About HarryI'm Just Wild About Harry"I'm Just Wild About Harry" is a song written in 1921 with lyrics by Noble Sissle and music by Eubie Blake for the Broadway show Shuffle Along. "I'm Just Wild About Harry" was the most popular number of the production, which was the first financially successful Broadway play to have...
- Baltimore Buzz (Mime Staged by Dana Manno)
- Daddy (Won't You Please Come Home) (Musical Staging by Julianne Boyd)
- There's a Million Little Cupids in the Sky
- I'm a Great Big Baby (Lyrics By Andy Razaf)
- My Handyman Ain't Handy Anymore (Lyrics By Andy Razaf)
- Low Down Blues
- Gee, I Wish I Had Someone to Rock Me in the Cradle of Love (Duet Arrangement by Vicki Carter)
- I'm Just Simply Full of Jazz
Act 2
- High Steppin' Days (Lyrics By Johnny Brandon)
- Dixie Moon
- Weary (Lyrics By Andy Razaf)
- Roll Jordan (Lyrics By Andy Razaf)
- Memories of You (Lyrics By Andy Razaf
- If You've Never Been Vamped by a Brownskin, You've Never Been Vamped at All
- You Got to Git the Gittin While the Gittin's Good (Lyrics By F. E. Miller)
- Oriental Blues
- I'm Craving for That Kind of Love (Musical Staging by Julianne Boyd)
- Hot Feet
- Goodnight Angeline
Awards and nominations
- Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Original Score (nominee) - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Hines, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
- Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
(Gregory Hines, winner) - Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Musical (nominee) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Godfrey, nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee)