Jamaica (musical)

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Original cast recording

Jamaica is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Harold Arlen.

Set on a small island off the coast of Jamaica, it focuses on impoverished fisherman Koli and the beautiful Savannah, who longs to escape to New York City. She is tempted to accept the marriage proposal of a New York businessman visiting the island, but when Koli saves her younger brother's life during a hurricane, she opts to remain with him.

Arlen's music parodies the popular form of Calypso, which was in vogue at the time, largely as a result of the popularity of Harry Belafonte, who allegedly was sought unsuccessfully to star in the musical.

With Calypso so out of fashion the musical now is dated, but many of the issues raised in its songs, including evolution, nuclear energy, and consumerism, remain topical today.

The Broadway production, directed by Robert Lewis and choreographed by Jack Cole, opened on October 31, 1957 at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 555 performances. The cast included Ricardo Montalbán as Koli and Lena Horne as Savannah, with Ossie Davis, Erik Rhodes, Adelaide Hall, and Josephine Premice in supporting roles. Alvin Ailey was the principal dancer.