The Harder They Come
The Public Theatre
Newman Theater
Previews Began: February 16, 2023
Opening Night: March 15, 2023
Closing Night: April 9, 2023
Music: Jimmy Cliff
Lyrics: Jimmy Cliff
Book: Suzan-Lori Parks
Walter Younger and his mother, Lena, both yearn to move their family out of Chicago’s Southside ghetto. When Lena’s late husband’s insurance check arrives, Lena hopes to use it to buy a house in a white neighborhood — while Walter hopes to invest it in a liquor business.
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
Kingston Town (007 Shanty Town)…………….Ensemble
You Can Get It If You Really Want………Ivan, Ensemble
He Will Save You…………………………..Elsa, Ensemble
Rivers of Babylon………………………..Daisy, Ensemble
007 Shanty Town…………………Jose, Pedro, Ensemble
Hero Don’t Never Die…….Jose, Pedro, Ivan, Ensemble
Hitting With Music……………………………..Ensemble
Hard Road to Travel………………………Ivan, Ensemble
He Will Save You (Reprise)……………….Elsa, Ensemble
Let’s Come in the House……………Preacher, Ensemble
Johnny Too Bad………………………………………..Ivan
Hymn…………………………………………………….Elsa
Just a Closer Walk with Thee…………….Elsa, Ensemble
Hello Sunshine…………………………………..Ivan, Elsa
Sweet and Dandy………………………………..Ensemble
The Harder They Come (Underscore)………………..Ivan
Please Tell Me Why…………………………….Daisy, Elsa
Better Days Are Coming………………………..Elsa, Ivan
The Harder They Come (Studio)……………………..Ivan
Pressure Drop…………………………..Hilton, Ensemble
You Can Get It If You Really Want (Reprise)………..Ivan
Draw Your Brakes (Stop That Train)…………..Ensemble
Aim and Ambition………………………..Ivan, Ensemble
ACT TWO
I Can See Clearly Now……..Ivan, Jose, Pedro, Ensemble
Israelites………………………………….Elsa, Ivan, Pedro
Draw Your Brakes (Reprise)…………………….Ensemble
Law Man Gonna Come (Bongo Man)………….Ensemble
Kingston Town (007 Shanty Town – Reprise)…Ensemble
The Ballad of Ivan………………………Pedro, Ensemble
Hymn (Reprise)…………………………………………Elsa
Sitting in Limbo………………………………….Ivan, Elsa
Many Rivers to Cross……….Daisy, Elsa, Ivan, Ensemble
The Harder They Come (Finale)…………Ivan, Ensemble
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Natey Jones Ivan
Jeannette Bayardelle Daisy
J. Bernard Calloway Preacher
Andrew Clarke Lyle
Dominique Johnson Jose
Dudney Joseph Jr. Ray
Meecah Elsa
Jacob Ming-Trent Pedro
Ken Robinson Hilton
Shawn Bowers Ensemble
Jamal Christopher Douglas Ensemble
Dana Marie Ingraham Ensemble
Chelsea-Ann Jones Ensemble
Morgan McGhee Ensemble
Alysha Morgan Ensemble
Housso Semon Ensemble
Sir Brock Warren Ensemble
Christopher Henry Young Ensemble
Understudies: Tyla Collier, Tiffany Francès, Garfield Hammonds, Dwight Xaveir Leslie, Denver Andre Taylor, Carla Woods