''John Henry'' was a 1940 original

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

musical based on the 1931 novel ''

John Henry John Henry most commonly refers to: *John Henry (folklore) John Henry may also refer to: People Artists and entertainers * John Henry (actor) (1738–1794), Irish and early American actor *Seán Ó hEinirí (1915–1998), known in English as John ...

'' by

Roark Bradford Roark Whitney Wickliffe Bradford (August21, 1896November13, 1948) was an American short story writer and novelist. Life He attended University of California, Berkeley, and served as a first lieutenant in the Coast Artillery during World War I. ...

. 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 ...

was written by Bradford with music composed by

Jacques Wolfe Jacques Leon Wolfe (April 29, 1896 – June 22, 1973) was a Romanian-born American songwriter. Wolfe was born into a Jewish familyH. F. Woods, Geoffrey T. Hellman, Harold Ross, and Clifford Orr, “Another Composer”, September 9, 1933, '' ...

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for h ...

starred in the title role with Ruby Elzy as Julie Anne. Other prominent members of the cast included Joseph Attles,

Maude Simmons Maude Simmons (October 2, 1893 – September 30, 1951) was an American singer and actress on the stage and screen. She is best known for her roles in ''Portrait of Jennie'' (1948) and '' No Way Out'' (1950). Simmons also performed over nearly 20 ...

Josh White Joshua Daniel White (February 11, 1914 – September 5, 1969) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and civil rights activist. He also recorded under the names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton in the 1930s. White grew up in the Sou ...

, Musa Williams, and

Bayard Rustin Bayard Rustin ( ; March 17, 1912 – August 24, 1987) was an American political activist and prominent leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin was the principal organizer of the March on Wash ...

. The show played at the

44th Street Theatre The 44th Street Theatre was a Broadway theater at 216 West 44th Street in the Theater District of Manhattan in New York City from 1912 to 1945. It was originally named Weber and Fields' Music Hall when it opened in November 1912 as a resident ve ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

from January 10, 1940, to January 15, 1940.

Songs

;Act I * "I'm Singing About a Man" - Blind Lemon * "How Come I'm Born Wid a Hook in My Hand" - John Henry * "All the People on the Levee" - John Henry and Chorus * "Ya Gotta Bend Down" - Blind Lemon and Chorus * "How Come I'm Born Wid a Hook in My Hand (Reprise)" - John Henry * "Coonjine" - Chorus * "Jaybird" - Old Aunt Dinah and John Henry * "Got a Head Like a Rock" - John Henry * "Whiffer's Song" - Blind Lemon * "Stingaree Song" - Poor Selma * "Bad, Bad Stacker Lee" - Man Named Sam * "Careless Love" - Julie Anne * "I've Trampled All Over" - Julie Anne and John Henry * "Caught Ole Blue" - Blind Lemon and Chorus * "Old John Henry/Po' Lil' Frenchie" - John Henry and Men * "Workin' on de Railroad" - John Henry and Men * "High Ballin'" - Chorus ;Act II * "Where Did You Get Dem High Heeled Shoes?" - Blind Lemon * "Let De Sun Sink Down" - Carrie and Chorus * "Ship of Zion" - Chorus * "No Bottom" - Chorus * "Lullaby" - Julie Anne * "Take Me a Drink of Whiskey" - Man Named Sam and Ruby * "Sundown in My Soul" - John Henry * "I'm Gonna Git Down on My Knees" - Hell Buster and Chorus * "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" - Hell Buster and Chorus * "I'm Born in the Country" - John Henry * "Now You Talks Mighty Big in the Country" - Man Named Sam and Chorus * "So Stand Back, All You Bullies" - John Henry * "Ship of Zion (Reprise)" - Chorus * " I Don't Care Where They Buried My Body" - Chorus * "He Went to the East" - Chorus

References

External links

* 1940 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals based on novels {{Musical-theat-stub