''Carmen Jones'' is a 1943 Broadway musical with music by

Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', w ...

(orchestrated for Broadway by

Robert Russell Bennett Robert Russell Bennett (June 15, 1894 – August 18, 1981) was an American composer and arranger, best known for his orchestration of many well-known Broadway and Hollywood musicals by other composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershw ...

) and lyrics and book by

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Award ...

which was performed at The Broadway Theatre. Conceptually, it is Bizet's opera ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

'' updated to a World War II-era, African-American setting. Bizet's opera was, in turn, based on the 1846 novella by

Prosper Mérimée Prosper Mérimée (; 28 September 1803 – 23 September 1870) was a French writer in the movement of Romanticism, one of the pioneers of the novella, a short novel or long short story. He was also a noted archaeologist and historian, an import ...

. The Broadway musical was produced by

Billy Rose Billy Rose (born William Samuel Rosenberg; September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966) was an American impresario, theatrical showman, lyricist and columnist. For years both before and after World War II, Billy Rose was a major force in entertainm ...

, using an all-black cast, and directed by

Hassard Short Hubert Edward Hassard Short (15 October 1877 – 9 October 1956), usually known as Hassard Short, was an actor, stage director, set designer and lighting designer in musical theatreJohn Kenrick (theatre writer), Kenrick, JohnWho's Who in Musicals ...

. Robert Shaw prepared the choral portions of the show. The original Broadway production starred Muriel Smith (alternating with Muriel Rahn) in the title role. The original Broadway cast members were nearly all new to the stage; Kennedy and Muir each wrote that on the first day of rehearsal only one member had ever been on a stage before this musical. The 1954 film was adapted by Hammerstein and Harry Kleiner. It was directed by

Otto Preminger Otto Ludwig Preminger ( ; ; 5 December 1905 – 23 April 1986) was an Austrian Americans, Austrian-American film and theatre director, film producer, and actor. He directed more than 35 feature films in a five-decade career after leaving the the ...

and starred Dorothy Dandridge and

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte ( ; born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte ...

. The musical has been revived in London, running for a season in 1991 at

Old Vic Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...

and most recently in

Royal Festival Hall The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London, England. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a G ...

in the

Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is an arts centre in London, England. It is adjacent to the separately owned National Theatre and BFI Southbank. It comprises the three main performance spaces – the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Purcell R ...

in 2007. In 2018, it was revived off-Broadway at the Classic Stage Company under the direction of John Doyle and

Anika Noni Rose Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress. She is best known for voicing Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), Tiana in ''The Princess and the Frog'' (2009). She was named a Disney Legends, Disney Legend in 2011. Rose starred ...

in the title role.

Plot

Parachute maker Carmen Jones makes a play for a "fly boy" Air Force man, Joe, who is in love with sweet Cindy Lou and about to marry her on a day pass when Carmen gets into a fight with another woman. Joe's pass is cancelled in order for him to drive her to the next town to be handed over to the non-military police. Instead, Carmen charms him and escapes, and he is put in the stockade for not delivering her to the authorities. While Carmen waits for Joe to be released from military prison, she hangs around Billy Pastor's jive cafe where she encounters boxer Husky Miller, who is instantly besotted with Carmen, calling her "heatwave". Carmen initially is uninterested, but her friends Frankie and Mert know that their invitation from Husky's manager to see him fight in Chicago depends on Carmen's being there, too. Muriel Rahn as Carmen Jones

Joe, having been released from the stockade, turns up at the cafe the same evening. At first, his prospects seem to be looking up, as his connections have put Joe back on track for aviator school. Carmen lays down a guilt trip, protesting that a long-distance relationship with Joe away at school just isn't what she had in mind. He immediately gets into a fight with his sergeant, who is making a move on Carmen, as well as putting pressure on Joe. Starting the fight would have been enough to put Joe back in military prison for years, but the fight goes badly, and the sergeant ends up apparently dead. Carmen makes Joe hide the body because desertion seems better than a lengthy sentence. The train ticket to Chicago originally given to Carmen offers them a way of avoiding the MPs. After a few days hiding in a seedy hotel with no money and no future with Joe, Carmen pays a visit to her two friends, now covered in diamonds and furs, at Husky's training camp. She only is looking for a loan, but they try to draw her to give up Joe and "go with the money" by staying with Husky. Later, at Husky's apartment, Frankie reads Carmen's "cards", and reveals the nine of spades - the card of death. In the belief that her days are numbered, Carmen gives in to Husky's advances, abandoning Joe for the luxurious life Husky can offer her. Cindy Lou comes to look for Joe, but he is still in love with Carmen and spurns Cindy Lou. The night of Husky's title fight, Joe tries to convince Carmen to return to him, but when she rejects him, he kills her, thus making the card's prophecy a reality.

Music

heavily adapted the

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

for

's opera ''

'' from the original French for his Broadway production. Arts and Entertainment Editor Elisabeth Vincentelli clarifies:

"The music was pretty much left intact, but Hammerstein transferred the action to World War II America. Carmen's tobacco factory became Carmen Jones'
parachute A parachute is a device designed to slow an object's descent through an atmosphere by creating Drag (physics), drag or aerodynamic Lift (force), lift. It is primarily used to safely support people exiting aircraft at height, but also serves va ...
factory, bullfighter Escamillo became boxer Husky Miller, and so on. As if this weren't enough, there also was the 'small' detail of casting the show only with African-Americans...many of the show's songs retain a surprising impact. The feverish intensity of 'Beat Out dat Rhythm on a Drum', for instance, hasn't dimmed over the years, and the song's been covered by a wide variety of performers, from Pearl Bailey and
Marc Almond Peter Mark Almond (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist of the synth-pop/ new wave duo Soft Cell. He has a distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He has had a diverse career as a ...
to
Mandy Patinkin Mandel "Mandy" Bruce Patinkin (; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television, and film. As a critically acclaimed Broadway (theatre), Broadway performer he has collaborated with Step ...
."

The majority of the actors performing the songs in the film '' Carmen Jones'' were dubbed. Even singer

was dubbed by LeVern Hutcherson, and Dorothy Dandridge was dubbed by

Marilyn Horne Marilyn Berneice Horne (born January 16, 1934) is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She specialized in roles requiring beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages. She is a recipient ...

(long before Horne became a well-known opera singer).

Songs

; Act 1 * Overture * Lift 'Em Up and Put 'Em Down (''Avec la garde montante'' in Bizet's original opera) – Street Boys * Honey Gal o' Mine – Male Chorus * Good Luck, Mr. Flyin' Man! – Female Chorus * Dat's Love ('' Habanera'' in Bizet's opera) – Carmen and Chorus * You Talk Just like My Maw (''Parle-moi de ma mère'' in Bizet's opera)– Joe and Cindy Lou * Murder-Murder – Female Chorus * Carmen Jones Is Goin' to Jail! – Pit Chorus * Dere's a Cafe on de Corner (''

Seguidilla The seguidilla (; ; plural in both English and Spanish ''seguidillas''; diminutive of ''seguida'', which means "sequence" and is the name of a dance). Accessed May 2008. is an old Crown of Castile, Castilian folksong and dance form in quick triple ...

'' in Bizet's opera) – Carmen and Joe * Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum (''Gypsy Song'' in Bizet's opera) – Frankie, Chorus * Stan' Up and Fight ('' Toreador Song'', also known as March of the Toreadors in Bizet's opera) – Husky Miller and Chorus * Whizzin' Away Along de Track (''Quintet (Nous avons en tête une affaire)'' in Bizet's opera) – Rum, Dink, Myrt, Frankie, and Carmen * Dis Flower (''Flower Song'' in Bizet's opera) – Joe * If You Would Only Come Away – Carmen and Joe ; Act 2 * De Cards Don't Lie (''Card Song'' in Bizet's opera) – Frankie, Myrt, Carmen, and female chorus * Dat Ol' Boy – Carmen * Poncho de Panther from Brazil – Frankie, Myrt, Husky Miller, Rum, and Chorus * My Joe (''Micaela's Air'' in Bizet's opera) – Cindy Lou * Finale (of Act II Scene I) – Carmen, Joe, Cindy Lou, Husky Miller, Rum, Dink, Frankie, and Myrt * Git Yer Program for de Big Fight – Chorus * Dat's Our Man! (''Les voici'' in Bizet's opera) – Chorus * Finale – Carmen, Joe, Chorus

Awards and nominations

Original London production

References

Bibliography

External links

''Carmen Jones''
at Ovrtur
''Carmen Jones''
at ''

Playbill ''Playbill'' is an American monthly magazine for Audience, theatergoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of ''Playbill'' are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the ...

''
''Carmen Jones''
at Festival Bruxellons!
''Carmen Jones''
at RodgersAndHammerstein.com * {{authority control 1943 musicals African-American musicals All-Black cast Broadway shows Broadway musicals West End musicals Musicals based on operas Musicals based on multiple works Laurence Olivier Award–winning musicals Musicals based on short fiction Georges Bizet Works based on Carmen (novella) Musicals about World War II