Timbuktu!
| Timbuktu! | |
|---|---|
 Original Broadway Playbill | |
| Music | George Forrest Robert Wright |
| Lyrics | George Forrest Robert Wright |
| Book | Luther Davis |
| Basis | The musical Kismet |
| Productions | 1978 Broadway |
Timbuktu! is a musical, with lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright, set to music by Borodin, Forrest and Wright. The book is by Luther Davis. It is a resetting of Forrest and Wright's musical Kismet. The musical is set in 1361 in Timbuktu, in the Empire of Mali, West Africa.
Production history[edit]
The musical premiered on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 1, 1978, and closed on September 10, 1978, after 221 performances and 22 previews.
The original production starred Eartha Kitt as Shaleem-La-Lume, William Marshall as Hadji, Gilbert Price as the Mansa of Mali, Melba Moore as Marsinah, and George Bell as the Wazir. Ira Hawkins replaced Marshall prior to the Broadway opening.[1] It was directed, choreographed and costume designed by Geoffrey Holder, with sets designed by Tony Straiges. Alan Eichler was associate producer.[1] Gerald Bordman noted that the sets and costumes had "a Ziegfeldian opulence." New songs based on African folk music were added to provide "some tonal verisimiltude."[2]
Following its Broadway run, it toured for more than a year with Kitt continuing in her starring role as Shaleem-La-Lume, Gregg Baker as Hadji, Bruce Hubbard as the Mansa and Vanessa Shaw as Marsinah.[3]
Original cast and characters[edit]
| Character | Broadway (1978)[4] | First National Tour (1978)[5] |
|---|---|---|
| Sahleem-La-Lume | Eartha Kitt | |
| Marsinah | Melba Moore | Vanessa Shaw |
| The Mansa of Mali | Gilbert Price | Bruce Hubbard |
| Hadji | Ira Hawkins | Gregg Baker |
| Munshi | Miguel Godreau | Homer Bryant |
| The Wazir | George Bell | |
| Chief Policeman | Bruce Hubbard | Ronald A. Richardson |
| Najua | Eleanor McCoy | Dyane Harvey |
| M'Ballah of the River | Daniel Barton | |
| Zubbediya | Vanessa Shaw | Priscilla Baskerville |
| The Orange Merchant | Obba Babatundé | Luther Fontaine |
Songs[edit]
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Awards and nominations[edit]
- 1978 Tony Award nominations
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - Gilbert Price
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical - Eartha Kitt
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design - Geoffrey Holder
- Tony Award for Most Innovative Production of a Revival - Luther Davis
- 1978 Drama Desk Award nominations
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - Geoffrey Holder
- Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design - Geoffrey Holder
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Timbuktu! – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
- ^ Bordman, Gerald Martin. American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle, "Act Six:Full Circuit; or, Return of the Brits" American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle (3rd ED.), Oxford University Press US, 2001, ISBN 0-19-513074-X, p. 750
- ^ "Geoffrey Holder, actor and Tony-award winning director, dies at 84". Los Angeles Times. October 6, 2014.
- ^ Playbill 1978 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/22/2023
- ^ Playbill 1978 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/22/2023