Overview
Synopsis
On a small Caribbean island in the 1950s, the townspeople find their tranquil lifestyle threatened by the lure of modernization and the promises of the American dream. Savannah, a spirited young woman, longs to leave the island for New York City, where she imagines glamour, prosperity, and excitement. Her ambitions are fueled by schemes of developers and outsiders who want to commercialize the island, replacing its simplicity with hotels, industry, and quick wealth. Amidst the colorful calypso rhythms and satirical humor, the community grapples with whether progress will bring true happiness or destroy their cherished way of life.
At the heart of the story is Savannah’s relationship with Koli, a humble fisherman who embodies the island’s values of contentment, love, and harmony with nature. As Savannah weighs her desire for sophistication against her love for Koli and her roots, she learns that material progress may come at too high a cost. The musical uses comedy and lively island-flavored music to highlight issues of consumerism, environmentalism, and cultural identity, offering a vibrant yet thoughtful exploration of what it means to preserve one’s traditions in the face of change.
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Context
When Jamaica premiered on Broadway in 1957, it was a unique departure from the golden-age musicals that dominated the era. Written by composer Harold Arlen and lyricist/book writer E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, the show was designed as a star vehicle for Lena Horne, who became the first African-American woman in decades to headline a major Broadway musical. Harburg, who had previously written the socially conscious Finian’s Rainbow, infused the story with satire and commentary on consumerism,
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Not Specified |
|
Songs
Act I
Act II
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Themes
Tradition vs. Modernization
At its heart,
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