Timbuktu!
Mark Hellinger Theatre
Previews Began: February 9, 1978
Opening Night: March 1, 1978
Closing Night: September 10, 1978
Music: George Forrest
Robert Wright
Lyrics: George Forrest
Robert Wright
Book: Luther Davis
This revision of Kismet, the musical tale of a wily poet who helps his daughter marry a prince while enjoying a dalliance of his own, is set in the half-mythical Timbuktu region of Mali in West Africa, and features an all-black cast with songs taken from African folk music.
Musical Numbers
ACT ONE
Rhymes Have I………………….Hadji, Marsinah, Beggars
Fate……………………………………………………………….Hadji
In the Beginning, Woman……………Shaleem-La-Lume
Baubles, Bangles and Beads…….Marsinah, Merchants
Stranger in Paradise……The Mansa of Mali, Marsinah
Gesticulate……………………………………….Hadji, Council
Night of My Nights……..The Mansa of Mali, Courtiers
ACT TWO
My Magic Lamp………………………………………..Marsinah
Stranger in Paradise (Reprise)…………………..Marsinah
Rahadlakum………………………………Shaleem-La-Lume,
Ladies of the Harem
And This Is My Beloved………………….Hadji, Marsinah,
the Mansa of Mali,
the Wazir
Golden Land, Golden Life………………Chief Policeman,
Nobles of the Court
Zubbediya……………………………….Zubbediya, Princess,
Marriage Candidates,
Acrobat
Night of My Nights (Reprise)………The Mansa of Mali,
Marsinah, Hadji,
Nobles of the Court
Sands of Time…………………..Hadji, Shaleem-La-Lume
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Eartha Kitt Shaleem-La-Lume
Melba Moore Marsinah
Gilbert Price The Mansa of Mali
Daniel Barton M’Ballah of the River
Citizen of Timbuktu
George Bell The Wazir
Miguel Godreau Munshi
Bird in Paradise
Ira Hawkins Hadji
Bruce A. Hubbard Chief Policeman
Eleanor McCoy Najua
Bird in Paradise
Obba Babatundé The Chakaba
Orange Merchant
Antelope
Citizen of Timbuktu
Gregg Baker Citizen of Timbuktu
Joella Breedlove Citizen of Timbuktu
Deborah K. Brown One of the Three Princesses
of Baguezane
Citizen of Timbuktu
Tony Carroll Citizen of Timbuktu
Sharon Cuff One of the Three Princesses
of Baguezane
Citizen of Timbuktu
Cheryl Cummings Citizen of Timbuktu
Luther Fontaine Antelope
Citizen of Timbuktu
Michael F. Harrison Citizen of Timbuktu
Dyane Harvey Citizen of Timbuktu
Marzetta Jones Citizen of Timbuktu
Jimmy Justice Citizen of Timbuktu
Eugene Little Citizen of Timbuktu
Patricia Lumpkin One of the Three Princesses
of Baguezane
Citizen of Timbuktu
Joe Lynn Citizen of Timbuktu
Tony Ndogo Citizen of Timbuktu
Harold Pierson Beggar
Witchdoctor
Citizen of Timbuktu
Ray Pollard Citizen of Timbuktu
Shezwae Powell Beggar
Woman in the Garden
Citizen of Timbuktu
Ronald Richardson Citizen of Timbuktu
Vanessa Shaw Zubbediya
Citizen of Timbuktu
Louis Tucker Beggar
Citizen of Timbuktu
Deborah Waller Child
Citizen of Timbuktu
Renée Warren Citizen of Timbuktu
Swings: Rodney Green, Jan Hazell
REPLACEMENTS
Vanessa Shaw Marsinah