The First
Martin Beck Theatre
Previews Began: October 19, 1981
Opening Night: November 17, 1981
Closing Night: December 13, 1981
Music: Bob Brush
Lyrics: Martin Charnin
Book: Joel Siegel
The story of Jackie Robinson, who became the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues when he was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, is musicalized by Bob Brush, Martin Charnin and Joel Siegel.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Jack Roosevelt Robinson………………Branch Rickey,
Leo Durocher
The National Pastime……………………..Cool Minnie,
Jackie Robinson,
Junkyard Jones,
the Monarchs
Will We Ever Know Each Other…Jackie Robinson,
Rachel Isum
The First……………………………………Jackie Robinson
Bloat………Leo Durocher, Reporters, the Dodgers
It Ain’t Gonna Work…………………….Casey Higgins,
Clyde Sukeforth,
the Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodger Strike………..Branch Rickey,
Leo Durocher
Jack Roosevelt Robinson (Reprise)…Branch Rickey
The First (Reprise)………………………….Rachel Isum
Act Two
Is This Year Next Year?…..Noonan, Eunice, Huey,
Frog, Sorrentino
You Do-Do-Do-It Good………………….Cool Minnie,
Jackie Robinson,
the Monarchs,
Ruby, Opal
Is This Year Next Year?
(Reprise)……….Branch Rickey, Holmes, Reporters,
Clyde Sukeforth, the Dodgers
There Are Days and There Are
Days……………………………………………….Rachel Isum
It’s A Beginning….Jackie Robinson, Branch Rickey,
Rachel Isum
The Opera Ain’t Over……….Noonan, the Regulars,
the Dodgers, Branch Rickey,
Hilda Chester, Fans