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Jamaica

Cover to Original Cast Album

A Musical Comedy in Two Acts, 17 Scenes. Book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy. Music by Harold Arlen. Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg.

Opened 31 October 1957 at the Imperial Theatre, closing for vacation 28 June 1958; reopened 11 August 1958 at the Imperial Theatre and closed 11 April 1959 after 558 performances.

Synopsis

The setting is a tropical, relatively apolitical paradise called Pigeon's Island, off Jamaica's coast. There a poor, handsome fisherman, Koli loves the beautiful Savannah. But Savannah spends her hours dreaming of living in New York. A hustling dude, Joe Nashua has come to the island to exploit pearl-diving possibilities in its shark-infested waters. Savannah sees in him an all-expenses-paid trip to the big city. However, when Koli saves the life of Savannah's little brother during a hurricane, she comes to face reality and accepts her island suitor. She visits New York only in a dream ballet.

CAST (in order of appearance):

Dancers; Islanders:

Scenes and Settings

The action takes place on Pigeon Island, a mythical island off Jamaica at the present time.

Act 1

Act 2

Musical Numbers:

  1. "Savannah" - (Koli, Men)
  2. "Savannah's Wedding Day" (Grandma Obeah, Snodgras, Hucklebuck, Quico, Chorus)
  3. "Pretty to Walk With" (Savannah, Chorus)
  4. "Push the Button" - (Savannah, Chorus)
  5. "Incompatibility" (Koli, Men)
  6. "Little Biscuit" (Cicero, Ginger)
  7. "Cocoanut Sweet" (Savannah)
  8. "Pity the Sunset" (Koli, Savannah)
  9. "(Hooray for De) Yankee Dollar" (Ginger, Chorus)
  10. "What Good Does It Do?" (Ginger, Cicero, Koli, Quico)
  11. "Monkey in the Mango Tree" (Koli, Men)
  12. "Take It Slow, Joe" (Savannah)
  13. Beach at Night—Dance
  14. "Ain't It the Truth" (Savannah)
  15. "Leave the Atom Alone" (Ginger, Chorus)
  16. "Cocoanut Sweet" (reprise) (Savannah)
  17. "For Every Fish (There's a Little Bigger Fish)" (Grandma Obeah, Men)
  18. "I Don't Think I'll End It All Today" (Savannah, Koli, Chorus)
  19. "Napoleon" (Savannah)
  20. "Ain't It the Truth" (reprise) (Savannah, Chorus)
  21. "Savannah" (reprise) (Savannah, Koli, Chorus)