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Hallelujah, Baby!

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  3w, 2m

Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Through the struggles and triumphs of a determined, talented, and resilient leading lady, Hallelujah, Baby! celebrates the African American experience in the first half of the 20th century.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Experimental, Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • NOMINEE: Nine 1968 Tony Awards
    WINNER! Five 1968 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Music & Lyrics
    WINNER! 1968 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance (Leslie Uggams)
Hallelujah, Baby!

Details

Summary
Through the struggles and triumphs of a determined, talented, and resilient leading lady, Hallelujah, Baby! celebrates the African American experience in the first half of the 20th century. Arthur Laurents’ inventive book follows Georgina Franklin as she rises from domestic work in the 1920s to stardom in the late 1960s—all without aging a day. The glorious score by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, includes “My Own Morning,” “I Don’t Know Where She Got It,” “Being Good,” and the title song.
History
Hallelujah, Baby! opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on April 26, 1967, starring Leslie Uggams in her Broadway debut. The production won five Tony Awards and played for 293 performances.

Act I

Georgina Franklin, a vibrant young African-American woman, enters carrying an umbrella. She addresses the audience directly, explaining that her story will go from the turn of the century right up to the present – but she and her loved ones will remain the same age.

In the early 20th century, Georgina and her Momma work as domestics on a South Carolina plantation (“Back In The Kitchen”). Momma urges Georgina to accept her lot as a housemaid, but Georgina yearns for more (“My Own Morning”). Georgina’s boyfriend Clem, who works as a Pullman porter, tells Georgina that he had saved up enough money for a down payment on a house, but he lost it all when a local white policeman confiscated his poker winnings (“The Slice”). A young white theatrical producer named Harvey hires Georgina to play a maid in a melodramatic Civil War play (“Farewell, Farewell”). Unfortunately, the play’s benefactor objects to black actors appearing alongside white ones, so Georgina loses her job. Distraught, she turns to Clem, who assures her things will improve (“When The Weather’s Better”).

In the Roaring Twenties, Harvey manages the 711 Club, a Harlem night spot where Clem works as a waiter and Georgina appears as one of the “Congo Cuties” (“Feet, Do Your Stuff”). A foreign customer, oblivious to bigoted local laws, insists that Georgina join him at his table. Conflicts arise and a fight ensues. After Georgina and Clem are fired, Clem vows to stop struggling in menial jobs and find success as a bootlegger (“You Ain’t Gonna Shake”). Harvey resigns in support of his friends. Georgina, unaccustomed to expressing gratitude, struggles to thank him (“Hey/You’re Welcome”). Georgina, Momma, and Clem return to their service jobs, mocking the obsequious tone they have to take with their employers (“Smile, Smile”).

During the Depression, Georgina manages to avoid the breadline by appearing in a WPA-funded stage adaptation of Macbeth (“Double, Double”). But the “subversive” show is shut down, and Georgina is again out of work. Clem, Harvey, and castmate Mary attempt to cheer her up (“Another Day”). Clem becomes involved with the growing Communist movement, telling Georgina the Communists call him “comrade” and not “boy.” They argue and Clem storms out, leaving Georgina to ponder her situation (“I Wanted To Change Him”).

Harvey tells Georgina about his feelings towards her. She cares about him, too, but realizes they cannot overcome the forces against their relationship. Harvey leaves, and Georgina vows to work twice as hard to achieve success (“Being Good”).

Act II

In the 1940s, Georgina is performing with a USO troupe while Clem and Harvey serve in the army. Both men remain attracted to Georgina, who struggles to sort out her feelings (“Talking To Yourself”). When she learns that her training camp audiences will be segregated, Georgina quits. Clem and Harvey support her decision (“Another Day” Reprise). Harvey attempts to join Clem and Georgina in the back of a bus, but the driver refuses to move until Harvey sits up front. Georgina, fed up, vows to “get out and go on.”

A decade later, Georgina has succeeded, headlining at an elegant nightclub (“Hallelujah, Baby!”). Harvey, who owns the club, proposes to Georgina, but she doesn’t give a definitive answer. Harvey wonders if they’ll ever be together (“Not Mine”). Clem, who has become a prominent civil rights activist, enters the club. He expresses his disappointment in Georgina, who seems to be overlooking her community in exchange for personal success. Clem and Harvey bond over their mutual interest in Georgina. Momma joins them, raucously telling them how surprised she is by Georgia’s success (“I Don’t Know Where She Got It”).

Georgina, who is now hobnobbing with white society, attends an otherwise all-white party. When a guest mistakes Momma for Georgina’s maid, Georgina realizes she must stop being so selfish and begin to “sing for everyone’s supper—not just my own” (“Now’s The Time”).

In the 1960s, Georgina and Momma prepare to move into a luxurious high-rise apartment, thanks to some strings pulled by Harvey. Clem resents Harvey’s interference, and the two men argue. After Georgina steps in, Harvey realizes he can never have a real relationship with Georgina. He leaves with Mary, and Clem and Georgina vow to make a better life together (“Finale: Now’s The Time”).  

Principals:
(3 female; 2 male)

Georgina – Determined and resilient young African-American woman
Momma – Her mother; practical, sassy and world-weary
Clem – Her boyfriend; ambitious, proud and intelligent
Harvey – A young white theatre producer; kind and open-minded
Mary (“Betty Lou”) – Young white actress; becomes Georgina’s friend

Featured Roles (Singing):

Tip – Nightclub performer
Tap – Nightclub performer

Featured Roles (Speaking):

Captain Yankee – Character in Southern melodrama
Mr. Calhoun – Character in Southern melodrama
Mr. Charles – Racist theatre owner
Mrs. Charles – His wife
Nightclub Announcer – Emcee
Sugar Daddy – Heckler at nightclub
Prince – Entitled foreign dignitary
Princess – His sister       
Mistress – Head of wealthy household
Master – Her husband
Director – Overseer of WPA play
Ethel – Actress and passionate young communist
Official – Government bureaucrat
Brenda – Wealthy debutante  
Winston – A breadliner
Timmy – Young communist
2 G.I.s – Admirers of Georgina
Bus Driver – Tired city worker
Hostess – Wealthy socialite
Suzanne – Mary’s friend
Justin – Mary’s friend
Young Maid – Job Applicant

Ensemble Roles (Non-Speaking):

Wardrobe Woman
Bouncer
Brenda’s Beau
Dan (Young Communist)

Other Ensemble Roles:

Poker players, stagehands, nightclub patrons, waitstaff, actors, breadliners, G.I.s, people on bus, party guests

  • Time Period 1960s, 1950s, 1940s/WWII, 1930s, 1920s, 1910s/WWI
  • Setting
    America from the turn of the century through 1967.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

“Prologue” - Georgina
“Back in the Kitchen” - Momma
“My Own Morning” - Georgina
“The Slice” - Clem and Provers
“Farewell, Farewell” - Calhoun, Betty Lou, Captain Yankee, Georgina and Harvey
“Feet Do Yo' Stuff” - Georgina, Chorines, Tip and Tap
“Watch My Dust” - Clem
“Smile, Smile” - Clem, Georgina and Momma
“Witches' Brew” - Georgina, Mary, Ethel and Company
“Breadline Dance” - Bums
“Another Day” - Harvey, Clem, Mary and Georgina
“I Wanted to Change Him” - Georgina
“Being Good Isn't Good Enough” - Georgina

Act II

“Dance Drill” - Tip, Tap and G.I.'s
“Talking to Yourself” - Georgina, Clem and Harvey
“Limbo Dance” - Night Club Patrons
“Hallelujah Baby!” - Georgina, Tip and Tap
“Not Min”e - Harvey
“I Don't Know Where She Got It” - Momma, Clem and Harvey
“Now's the Time” - Georgina
“Now's the Time” (Reprise) - Company

Full Orchestration

Violins
Cello
Bass (Electric, Acoustic & Tuba)

Reed 1: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax Soprano Sax and Alto flute
Reed 2: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet Alto Sax and Soprano Sax
Reed 3: Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Tenor Sax and Soprano Sax
Reed 4: Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon & Tenor Sax
Reed 5: Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Sax & Bass Saxophone

Horn
Trumpet 1 & 2 (both doubling Flugelhorn)
Trumpet 3 (doubling Flugelhorn)
Trumpet 4
Trombone 1 (Tenor)
Trombone 2 (Tenor)
Trombone 3 (Bass)

Percussion 1:
Trap Set (Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Tom Tom, Hi-Hat, Suspended Cymbals), Wood Blocks
Cowbells, Triangle

Percussion 2:
Snare Drum, Field Drum, Bass Drum, (with Cymbal attached), Piatti, Suspended Cymbal,
Timpani (2), Bells, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Triangle, Wood Block, Bongo Drums, Ratchet,
Tambourine, Slapstick, Wind Whistle (Mouth Siren) Maracas, Scratcher

Guitar/Banjo
Piano/Celeste/Organ

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
34 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
1 Reed 5
1 Horn
2 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trumpet 4
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Trombone 3
1 Percussion 1
1 Percussion 2
1 Piano/Celeste/Organ
1 Guitar & Banjo
3 Violins
2 Cello
1 Bass
34 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor

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Authors

Arthur Laurents

Arthur Laurents (1917-2011) was the author of musical plays such as West Side Story, Gypsy, Anyone Can Whistle, Do I Hear A Waltz?, Hallelujah Baby! (1967 Tony Award For Best Musical) and Nick & Nora; and the screenplays The Snake Pit, Rope, Caught, Anastasia, Bonjour Tristes ...

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Jule Styne

Jule Styne (1905-1994) made Broadway sing for 50 years with shows including High Button Shoes; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Hazel Flagg; Gypsy; Peter Pan; Bells Are Ringing; Do Re Mi; Subways Are For Sleeping; Funny Girl; Fade Out-Fade In; Hallelujah, Baby!; The Red Shoes; and D ...

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Betty Comden

Betty Comden (1917-2006) was an award-winning screenwriter, librettist and lyricist, co-writing with her longtime creative partner, Adolph Green. Comden and Green had a groundbreaking partnership of over 60 years, winning Tony Awards for their lyrics and/or librettos for Appl ...

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Adolph Green

Adolph Green (1914-2002) was an award-winning screenwriter, librettist and lyricist, co-writing with his longtime creative partner, Betty Comden. Comden and Green had a groundbreaking partnership of over 60 years, winning Tony Awards for their lyrics and/or librettos for Appl ...

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