190. Cabin in the Sky 1940
Musical Comedy in Two Acts and Nine Scenes
- Music
Music by Vernon Duke. Lyrics by John Latouche. Book by Lynn Root. Orchestrations by Domenico Savino, Charles Cooke, Fudd Livingston, Nathan van Cleve. Vocal arrangements by Hugh Martin.
- Choreography
George Balanchine in collaboration with Katherine Dunham
- Production
Produced by Albert Lewis in association with Vinton Freedley. Entire production staged by George Balanchine. Dialogue directed by Albert Lewis. Scenery and costumes by Boris Aronson. Scenery executed by Studio Alliance; costumes executed by Karinska.
- Premiere
October 25, 1940, Martin Beck Theatre, New York. Conductor: Max Meth
- Cast
Petunia Jackson, Ethel Waters; ‘Little Joe’ Jackson, Dooley Wilson; Georgia Brown, Katherine Dunham; Lucifer, Jr., Rex Ingram; The Lawd’s General, Todd Duncan; and others. Katherine Dunham Dancers: 17 men and women.
DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO (Act I): Lucifer, Jr., Rex Ingram; Imps, Archie Savage, Jiene Moxzer, Rajah Ohardieno, Alexander McDonald.
FUGUE [HELL SCENE] (Act II): drummers, Dunham Dancers.
EGYPTIAN BALLET (VISION) (Act II): Katherine Dunham and the Dunham Dancers.
LAZY STEPS (Act II): The Dunham Dancers.
BOOGY WOOGY (Act II): The Dunham Dancers.
HONEY IN THE HONEYCOMB (Act II): Dunham and male Dunham Dancers.
SAVANNAH (Act II): Waters; Savage.
Performance Type
Musical Theater
Note
156 performances. A musical with a black theme and a black cast.
Additional information provided by Katherine Dunham, who asserted that the collaboration was so complete it is impossible to be specific about individual contributions.
