Jericho-Jim Crow

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Jericho-Jim Crow is a critically acclaimed 1964 play written by Langston Hughes. It was a pioneering work in the black gospel musical style, based on the themes of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. According to Arnold Rampersad, a Hughes scholar, Hughes had “virtually pioneered” the black gospel musical, first with Black Nativity (1961) and then with Jericho-Jim Crow [1].

Book: William Hairston and Langston Hughes

Premiere: Sunday, January 5, 1964 at the Sanctuary Theatre, (New York) . It was co-directed by Alvin Ailey and William Hairston and conducted by Hugh Porter. Marion Joseph Franklin, Jr. was associate musical director and musical accompanist.

(A 1964 New York Times Review by Richard F. Shepard [2])

[edit] Original Cast

[edit] Songs

  1. A meeting here tonight
  2. I'm on my way
  3. I been 'Buked and I been Scorned
  4. Such a little king
  5. Is Massa Gwine to sell us tomorrow?
  6. How much do you want me to bear?
  7. Where will I lie down?
  8. Follow the Drinkin' Gourd
  9. John Brown's Body
  10. The Battle Hymn of the Republic
  11. Slavery chain done broke at last
  12. Oh, Freedom
  13. Go down, Moses
  14. Ezekiel saw the wheel
  15. Stay in the field
  16. Freedom land
  17. God's gonna cut you down
  18. Better leave segregation alone
  19. My mind on freedom
  20. We Shall Overcome
  21. The battle of old Jim Crow
  22. Come and go with me