Purlie: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Broadway musical based on play by Ossie Davis}}

| basis= [[Ossie Davis]]'s play <br>''[[Purlie Victorious]]''

'''''Purlie''''' is a [[musical theatre|musical]] with a book by [[Ossie Davis]], [[Philip Rose (theatrical producer)|Philip Rose]], and [[Peter Udell]], lyrics by Udell and music by [[Gary Geld]]. It is based on Davis's 1961 play ''[[''Purlie Victorious'']], which was later made into the 1963 film ''[[Gone. Are the Days!]]'' and which included many of the original Broadway cast, including Davis, [[Ruby Dee]], [[Alan Alda]], [[Beah Richards]], [[Godfrey Cambridge]], and [[Sorrell Booke]].

[[File:Sherman Hemsley Purlie 1972.JPG|thumb|180px|[[Sherman Hemsley]] in the 1972 production]]

After 28 previews, the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production, directed by Rose and [[choreographed]] by [[Louis Johnson (choreographer)|Louis Johnson]], opened on March 15, 1970, at [[the Broadway Theatre]]. It later transferred to the [[Winter Garden Theatre|Winter Garden]] and then the [[August Wilson Theatre|ANTA Playhouse]] before completing its 688-performance run. The cast included [[Cleavon Little]] as Purlie, John Heffernan as Cotchipee, [[Melba Moore]] as Lutiebelle, and C. David Colson as Charlie, with [[Sherman Hemsley]], [[Linda Hopkins]], [[Novella Nelson]], and [[Helen Martin]] in supporting roles. [[Robert Guillaume]] replaced Little later in the run. Johnson's choreography was nominated for a [[Tony Award]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kourlas |first1=Gia |title=Louis Johnson, 90, Genre-Crossing Dancer and Choreographer, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/arts/dance/louis-johnson-90-genre-crossing-dancer-and-choreographer-dies.html |access-date=1 June 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=10 April 2020}}</ref>

The first edition of the [[cast album|original cast recording]] was released by Ampex Records;<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1927062 Discogs"Gary Geld - Philip Rose Presents Purlie The Original Broadway Cast Recording"]. Discogs.</ref> it was later re-released on [[RCA Victor]].

A U.S. national tour, leading up to the Broadway revival, ran from November 20, 1971 to December 2, 1972. It featured Guillaume as Purlie, [[Patti Jo]] as Lutiebelle, Sherman Hemsley as Gitlow, Helen Martin as Idella, [[Tommy Breslin]] as Charlie and [[Art Wallace]] as Ol' Cap'n.<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/purlie-525163#People Purlie. Tour.] Internet Broadway Database. 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021</ref>

The first [[London]] production was a [[fringe theatre]] staging at the Bridewell Theatre in 2004. The cast included Tee Jaye as Purlie, John Lyons as Cotchipee, [[Victoria Wilson-James]] as Missy Judson, and Joanna Francis as Lutiebelle.<ref>[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/purlie-rev.htm British Theatre Guide]</ref><ref>[{{cite web|url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/theatre/t_purlie_bridewell_rev.html |title=Purlie is Victorious at The Bridewell].|first=David |last=Munro|website= Indie London|location= UK. Retrieved |access-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>

In 2005, Sheldon Epps directed a US national tour co-produced by the [[Pasadena Playhouse]] and the [[Goodman Theatre]]. His [[New York City Center]] ''[[Encores!]]'' staging that same year featured [[Blair Underwood]], [[Anika Noni Rose]], [[Lillias White]], and [[John Cullum]].<ref>{{cite webnews|first=Ben|last=Brantley|date=April 2, 2005|title=Playing With Fire Out on the Plantation|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/theater/reviews/02purl.html|worknewspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

* "Walk Him Up the Stairs" - Entire Company

* "Newfangled Preacher Man" - Purlie

* "Skinnin' a Cat" - Gitlow & The Field Hands

* "Purlie" - Lutiebelle

* "The Harder They Fall" - Purlie & Lutiebelle

* "Charlie's Songs: The Barrels of War; The Unborn Love" - Charlie

* "Big Fish, Little Fish" - Ol' Cap'n & Charlie

* "I Got Love" - Lutiebelle

* "Great White Father" - The Cotton Pickers

* "Skinnin' a Cat (Reprise)" - Gitlow & Charlie

* "First Thing Monday Mornin{{'"}} - The Cotton Pickers

* "Down Home" - Purlie & Missy

* "He Can Do It" - Missy & Lutiebelle

* "The Harder They Fall (Reprise)" - Gitlow, Lutiebelle, and Missy

* "The Testimony of Purlie Victorious" - Purlie

* "The World Is Comin' to a Start" - Charlie & Company

* "Walk Him Up the Stairs (Reprise)" - Entire Company

[[Category:BroadwayAfrican-American musicalsfilms]]

[[Category:PlaysMusicals aboutset racein andGeorgia ethnicity(U.S. state)]]