Editing Timbuktu!

{{Short description|Musical}}
{{Infobox Musical
|name= Timbuktu!
|subtitle=
|image= Timbutku! musical playbill.png
|caption= Original Broadway Playbill
|music= [[George Forrest (author)|George Forrest]] <br> [[Robert Wright (writer)|Robert Wright]]
|lyrics= George Forrest <br> Robert Wright
|book= [[Luther Davis]]
|basis= The musical ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]''
|productions= 1978 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards= 
}}
'''''Timbuktu!''''' is a musical, with lyrics by [[George Forrest (author)|George Forrest]] and [[Robert Wright (writer)|Robert Wright]], set to music by [[Alexander Borodin|Borodin]], Forrest and Wright. The book is by [[Luther Davis]]. It is a resetting of Forrest and Wright's musical ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]''. The musical is set in 1361 in [[Timbuktu]], in the [[Mali Empire|Empire of Mali]], West Africa.

==Production history==
The musical premiered on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Mark Hellinger Theatre]] on March 1, 1978, and closed on September 10, 1978, after 221 performances and 22 previews.<ref name="The Broadway League 19782">{{Cite web |title=Timbuktu! Broadway @ Mark Hellinger Theatre |url=http://www.playbill.com/production/timbuktu-mark-hellinger-theatre-vault-0000005786 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=Playbill |language=en |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214195912/https://www.playbill.com/production/timbuktu-mark-hellinger-theatre-vault-0000005786 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

The original production starred [[Eartha Kitt]] as Shaleem-La-Lume, [[William Marshall (actor)|William Marshall]] as Hadji, [[Gilbert Price]] as the Mansa of Mali, [[Melba Moore]] as Marsinah, and George Bell as the Wazir. Ira Hawkins replaced Marshall prior to the Broadway opening.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |date=February 1, 1978 |title=Timbuktu! – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/timbuktu-4043 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |publisher=Internet Broadway Database |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214212856/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/timbuktu-4043 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was directed, choreographed and costume designed by [[Geoffrey Holder]], with sets designed by [[Tony Straiges]]. [[Alan Eichler]] was associate producer.<ref name="auto"/> [[Gerald Bordman]] noted that the sets and costumes had "a Ziegfeldian opulence." New songs based on African folk music were added to provide "some tonal verisimiltude."<ref>Bordman, Gerald Martin.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=YiBaRas9jTwC&dq=%22Eartha+Kitt%22+Timbuktu%21&pg=PA750   ''American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle'', "Act Six:Full Circuit; or, Return of the Brits"]  ''American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle'' (3rd ED.), Oxford University Press US, 2001, {{ISBN|0-19-513074-X}}, p. 750</ref>

Following its Broadway run, it toured for more than a year with Kitt continuing in her starring role as Shaleem-La-Lume, Gregg Baker as Hadji, [[Bruce Hubbard]] as the Mansa and Vanessa Shaw as Marsinah.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-geoffrey-holder-dead-20141006-story.html|title=Geoffrey Holder, actor and Tony-award winning director, dies at 84|date=October 6, 2014|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

== Original cast and characters ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%; text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Character
!Broadway (1978)<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/productions/timbuktu-mark-hellinger-theatre-vault-0000005786#carousel-cell194127''Playbill 1978 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/22/2023</ref>
!First National Tour (1978)<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/itm/324738001871''Playbill 1978 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/22/2023</ref>
|-
!Sahleem-La-Lume 
| colspan="2" |[[Eartha Kitt]]
|-
!Marsinah
| colspan="1” |[[Melba Moore]]
| colspan="1” |Vanessa Shaw
|-
!The Mansa of Mali
| colspan="1” |[[Gilbert Price]]
| colspan="1" |[[Bruce Hubbard]]
|-
!Hadji
| colspan="1" |Ira Hawkins
| colspan="1" |Gregg Baker
|-
!Munshi
| colspan="1" |Miguel Godreau
| colspan="1" |Homer Bryant
|-
!The Wazir
| colspan="2" |George Bell
|-
!Chief Policeman
| colspan="1" |[[Bruce Hubbard]]
| colspan="1" |Ronald A. Richardson
|-
!Najua
| colspan="1" |Eleanor McCoy
| colspan="1" |Dyane Harvey
|-
!M'Ballah of the River
| colspan="2" |Daniel Barton
|-
!Zubbediya
| colspan="1" |Vanessa Shaw
| colspan="1" |Priscilla Baskerville 
|-
!The Orange Merchant 
| colspan="1" |[[Obba Babatundé]]
| colspan="1" |Luther Fontaine
|}

==Songs==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
* "Rhymes Have I" - Hadji, Marsinah and Beggars
* "[[Fate (1953 song)|Fate]]" - Hadji
* "In the Beginning, Woman" - Shaleem-La-Lume
* "[[Baubles, Bangles and Beads]]" - Marsinah and Merchants
* "[[Stranger in Paradise (song)|Stranger in Paradise]]" - The Mansa of Mali and Marsinah
* "Gesticulate" - Hadji and Council
* "Night of My Nights" - The Mansa of Mali and Courtiers
{{col-break}}
;Act II
* "My Magic Lamp" - Marsinah
* "Stranger in Paradise (Reprise)" - Marsinah
* "Rahadlakum" - Shaleem-La-Lume and Ladies of the Harem
* "[[And This Is My Beloved]]" - Hadji, Marsinah, The Mansa of Mali and The Wazir
* "Golden Land, Golden Life" - Chief Policeman and Nobles of the Court
* "Zubbediya" - Zubbediya, Princess, Marriage Candidates and Acrobat
* "Night of My Nights (Reprise)" - The Mansa of Mali, Marsinah, Hadji and Nobles of the Court
* "Sands of Time" - Hadji and Shaleem-La-Lume
{{col-end}}

==Awards and nominations==
;1978 Tony Award nominations
* [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical]] - Gilbert Price 
* [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical]] - Eartha Kitt 
* [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design]] - Geoffrey Holder 
* [[Tony Award for Best Revival|Tony Award for Most Innovative Production of a Revival]] - Luther Davis

;1978 Drama Desk Award nominations
* [[Drama Desk Award]] for Outstanding Choreography - Geoffrey Holder 
* Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design - Geoffrey Holder

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ibdb show|id=8728}}
*[http://www.mtishows.com/show_home.asp?ID=000203 Production information and synopsis at MTI Shows]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsKJDm35CfQ "Eartha Kitt Entrance-''Timbuktu'' 1978!"] YouTube clip.

{{Kismet}}

[[Category:1978 musicals]]
[[Category:African-American musicals]]
[[Category:All-Black cast Broadway shows]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the 14th century]]
[[Category:Timbuktu in popular culture]]
[[Category:Musicals set in Mali]]