Eubie!
A delightful revue celebrating the indomitable spirit of composer, pianist and raconteur Eubie Blake.
Show Essentials
11
Roles
PG
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Eubie! is a toe-tapping revue of Eubie Blake songs. Blake was composer, lyricist and performer who broke down racial barriers on the Broadway stage in the 1910s and 20s. With his frequent partner Noble Sissle, Blake wrote the groundbreaking show Shuffle Along, which was the first American musical directed, produced, written and acted in by African-Americans to appear on the Broadway stage. Eubie! strings together some of Blake's best known tunes with an ensemble of 11-20 actors. Each song is part of a vignette that deals with the themes of the song, the time period when Blake was at his peak, and relationships. The songs appear in the following order:
 

Act One

"Goodnight Angeline"/ "Charleston Rag"
"Shuffle Along"
"In Honeysuckle Time"
"I'm Just Wild About Harry"
"Baltimore Buzz"
"Daddy"
"I'm A Great Big Baby"
"My Handyman Ain't Handy Anymore"
"Low Down Blues"
"Gee, I wish I had Someone to Rock Me in the Cradle of Love"
"I'm Just Simply Full of Jazz"

Act Two

"High Steppin' Days"
"Dixie Moon"
"Weary"
"Roll Jordan"
"Memories of You"
"If You've Never Been Vamped By A Brownskin, You've Never Been Vamped At All"
"You Got to Git The Gittin While The Gittin's Good"
"Oriental Blues"
"I'm Craving for That Kind of Love"
"Hot Feet"
"Goodnight, Angeline"

Casting
← Back to Eubie!
Cast Size: Medium (11 to 20 performers)
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Woman #1
A sweet ingenue type. Music selections include "I'm Just Wild about Harry."
Gender: female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Woman #2
A wonderfully-skilled dancer. Music selections include "Weary."
Gender: female
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Woman #3
A sexy, slinky type that is also wide-eyed and innocent. Music selections include "Daddy, Won't You Please Come Home" and "I'm Craving for That Kind of Love."
Gender: female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Woman #4
A classical beauty and legit singer. Music selections include "Cradle of Love" and "Memories of You."
Gender: female
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Woman #5
An earthy siren with a strong character belt. Music selections include "If You've Never Been Vamped By a Brownskin, You've Never Been Vamped at All."
Gender: female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Woman #6
A gospel singer with a big, soulful belt. Music selections include "My Handy Man Ain't Handy Anymore" and "Roll Jordan."
Gender: female
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Man #1
A smooth dancer with lots of style. Music selections include "Honeysuckle Time."
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Man #2
A flashy dancer with supreme tap skills. Music selections include "You've Got to Get the Gittin'."
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Man #3
A clean-cut, wholesome type. Music selections include "Dixie Moon."
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Man #4
A Blues singer and character dancer with great tap skills. Music selections include "Low Down Blues" and "Hot Feet."
Gender: male
Vocal range top: Ab4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Man #5
An overweight but loveable man with a character voice. Despite his ample size, he has great tap skills. Music selections include "Great Big Baby" and "Oriental Blues."
Gender: male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Full Song List
Eubie!: Shuffle Along
Eubie!: Sweet Emmaline
Eubie!: I'm Just Wild About Harry
Eubie!: Daddy/Come Home
Eubie!: I'm a Great Big Baby
Eubie!: My Handyman Ain't Handy Anymore
Eubie!: Low Down Blues
Eubie!: Love/Lowdown
Eubie!: Dixie Moon
Eubie!: Weary/Roll Jordan
Eubie!: Memories of You
Eubie!: BrownSmith/Vamped
Eubie!: You Gotta Get the Gittin' While the Gittin's Good
Eubie!: Love
Eubie!: Good Night, Angeline
Eubie!: Finale

Show History

Inspiration

Eubie! is a revue of the music of composer, lyricist, and pianist Eubie Blake.  Theater director Julianne Boyd conceived the idea behind the revue; each song was part of a vignette that deals with the themes of the song, the time period when Blake was at his peak, and relationships.  Boyd brought together a collection of Blake's most famous songs, along with lyrics from his

Critical Reaction

"Blake's compositions, obviously boosted by Sissle's (and in several instances Andy Razaf's) lyrics, are done with brilliantly humorous style and taste." - Variety

 

Tony® Award

1979 - Best Score, Nominee (Eubie Blake (music), Noble Sissle, Andy Razaf, F.E. Miller, Johnny Brandon, Jim Europe (lyrics))
1979 - Choreography Of A Broadway Production, Nominee (Henry LeTang and Billy Wilson)
1979 - Featured Actor In A Musical, Nominee (Gregory Hines)

Theater World Award

1979 - Outstanding Debut Performance, Winner (Gregory Hines)

Drama Desk Award

1979 - Outstanding Choreography, Nominee (Billy Wilson)
1979 - Outstanding Choreography, Nominee (Henry LeTang)
1979 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Nominee (Lynnie Godfrey)

Connect

Playbill Vault

Billing

Requirements

Under the terms and conditions of your organisation’s Performance Agreement, the following credits must appear on all advertising (including websites) relating to the production. Credits must be reproduced faithfully in accordance with the following layout. No alterations or deletions can be permitted unless stated below.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.

 

"EUBIE"
 
Music by
EUBIE BLAKE
Conceived and originally directed on Broadway by
Julianne Boyd
Produced on Broadway by Ashton Springer
 

MTI Billing

Amateur Licensees MUST include the following credit on all publicity (posters, programmes, websites etc.):
Eubie!
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International
All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI
  • www.MTIShows.co.uk


Professional Licensees must use the following credit:

Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International
  • www.MTIShows.co.uk


The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK15
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
REFERENCE RECORDING

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASSBASS , TUBA
DRUMSBELLS , CHIMES
GUITARBANJO , GUITAR
REED 1ALTO SAXOPHONE , CLARINET , FLUTE , SOPRANO SAX
TROMBONE
TRUMPET
TRUMPET 2
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