[musictheatre00]

It was the TONY award winner of Best Musical in 1967, but to be completely honest I never heard of it, any details?

[JeffF]

I've seen it. The books a little dated, and heavy handed but still a good Jule Styne score. It was revived at Arena Stage in 2005 and I saw it then.

It needs a couple of strong black female leads. "My Own Morning" is a very good opening song.

Listen to the OBC if you get a chance.

[teapot]

I remember being blown away by Leslie Uggams in it, back in 1967. The story line was a telling over half a century or so about a black woman performer's life as she worked from plantation maid to nightclub star. She is involved with both a black man and a white man, and the issues of racism and rights are woven in the theatrical stories. I remember Robert Hooks was the male lead. I don't remember much more than that, which leads me to think it might not have weathered well over the years. It was pretty preachy, but Uggams was incandescent.

[JeffF]

You're right that the book is a bit dated. It plays like a period piece now.

Still, Styne's score holds up very well.