The First is a musical

Musical theatre

Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...

 with a book by critic Joel Siegel

Joel Siegel

Joel Siegel was an American film critic for the ABC morning news show Good Morning America for over 25 years. Born to a Jewish family of Romanian descent, and raised in Los Angeles, California, he graduated cum laude from UCLA. His Romanian-born grandmother from Botoşani survived the Triangle...

. The music was composed by Robert Brush, and Martin Charnin

Martin Charnin

Martin Charnin is an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director and lyricist of the hit musical Annie....

 wrote the lyrics. The show is based on the life of Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...

, the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century.

The musical premiered on Broadway

Broadway 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...

 at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 17, 1981 and closed on December 12, 1981 after 37 performances and 33 previews. Directed by Martin Charnin and choreographed by Alan Johnson, the original cast included David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...

 as Jackie Robinson, and Lonette McKee

Lonette McKee

Lonette McKee is an American film and television actress, music composer/producer/songwriter, screenwriter and director.-Biography:...

 as his wife Rachel.

Songs

Act I

• Jack Roosevelt Robinson
• The National Pastime
• Will We Ever Know Each Other
• The First
• Bloat
• It Ain't Gonna Work
• The Brooklyn Dodger Strike
• Jack Roosevelt Robinson (Reprise)
• The First (Reprise)

Act 2

• Is This Year Next Year?
• You Do-Do-Do-It Good
• Is This Year Next Year? (Reprise)
• There Are Days and There Are Days
• It's A Beginning
• The Opera Ain't Over

Awards and nominations

1982 Tony Award

Tony Award

The 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...

s

• Best Book of a Musical -- Joel Siegel
  Joel Siegel
  Joel Siegel was an American film critic for the ABC morning news show Good Morning America for over 25 years. Born to a Jewish family of Romanian descent, and raised in Los Angeles, California, he graduated cum laude from UCLA. His Romanian-born grandmother from Botoşani survived the Triangle...
  
  ; Written in collaboration with Martin Charnin
  Martin Charnin
  Martin Charnin is an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director and lyricist of the hit musical Annie....
  
   [nominee]
• Best Featured Actor in a Musical -- David Alan Grier
  David Alan Grier
  David Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...
  
   [nominee]
• Best Direction of a Musical -- Martin Charnin [nominee]

1982 Theatre World Award

Theatre World Award

The 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:...

• Best Supporting Actor in a Musical -- David Alan Grier [winner]

1982 Drama Desk Award

Drama Desk Award

The 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...

• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical -- Lonette McKee
  Lonette McKee
  Lonette McKee is an American film and television actress, music composer/producer/songwriter, screenwriter and director.-Biography:...
  
  [nominee]
• Outstanding Set Design -- David Chapman [nominee]