| Talking about Judd Woldin: Why not present LITTLE HAM? (re: Why not present RAISIN?) |
| Last Edit: Marlo*Manners 02:20 pm EST 02/03/22 |
| Posted by: Marlo*Manners 02:05 pm EST 02/03/22 |
| In reply to: re: Why not present RAISIN? - PlayWiz 01:43 pm EST 02/03/22 |
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The late Judd Woldin composed the score for "Raisin" with Robert Brittan (lyrics). But Woldin also wrote another black musical "Little Ham" based on a comedic Langston Hughes play. Richard Engquist wrote the lyrics (with Woldin) and Daniel Owens did the book. It had premiered at the George Street Playhouse in 1987 and would also play at the Westport Country Playhouse. It also was produced by Amas Musical Theatre at the Hudson Guild and moved to the John Houseman Theater in 2002 where I saw it. I remember it had a terrific Harlem jazz score and was very enjoyable. The cast was bursting with talent. However the production by Eric Krebs which was directed by Eric Riley was cheap, colorless and flat. The show also needed better choreography. I felt that had "Little Ham" been given a stylish, zippy colorful production it would have soared with the press and audiences and become a hit.
The Off-Broadway production at the Hudson Guild Theater closed due to the high cost of doing a musical Off-Broadway with a large cast was financially unsustainable and box office receipts weren't coming in. Plus a NY Times reviewer who had loved the show Off-Off Broadway turned on it when it moved uptown. Woldin died in 2011 and the show has sunk without a trace. If Encores wants to do a black Off-Broadway show, this would be a GREAT candidate.
Marlo Manners (Lady Barrington) |
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re: Why not present RAISIN? - PlayWiz 01:43 pm EST 02/03/22 |
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