Billy Wilson and the All-Black Revival of Guys and Dolls

After choreographing Bubbling Brown Sugar, Wilson’s next Broadway show was an all-black revival of Guys and Dolls.  Wilson both directed and choreographed the show, which premiered in 1976.  This show gave Wilson his second Tony nomination. When talking about his revival, Wilson said, “It’s not so much the changing of words that makes the difference. It’s the delivery. We have such rich attitudes among blacks. It’s something that’s intrinsic with us. It isn’t what you say, it’s how you say it, which is beautiful to me.”  Ken Page, who starred in the revival as Nicely, Nicely Johnson, said about Wilson, “I had never met anyone who was African American and had that level of control and power in a work situation… [he] was mesmerizing and absolutely instructional.”   Furthermore, the show brought many black dancers and performers to prominence, further cementing Wilson’s contribution to black musical theater.

 

Sources:

A Celebration of the Life of Billy Wilson, dancer, choreographer, director, educator, Facebook 
Look Back at the All-Black 1976 Revival of Guys and Dolls On Broadway, Playbill 

 

More about All-Black Revival of Guys and Dolls

The all-Black revival of Guys and Dolls opened on Broadway in July of 1976 and had 239 performances before it closed in February of 1977. Produced by Moe Septee and directed and choreographed by Billy Wilson, the show was given the Tony nomination of the Most Innovative Production of a Revival.  The plot of the show features a gambler attempting to seduce a Salvation Army missioner as a bet.  The revival cast included Robert Guillaume, Norma Donaldson, Ernestine Jackson, James Randolph, Edye Byrde, Clark Morgan, Ken Page, Christophe Pierre, Emett Wallace, Derrick Bell, Toney Brealond, Jamie Charlies, Bardell Conner, Prudence Darby, Irene Datcher, Alvin Davis, Jacquelyn DuBois, Anna Maria Fowlkes, Helen Gelzer, Nathan Jennings Jr., Julia Lema, Bill Mackey, Sterling McQueen, Marion Moore, John Russel, Jacqueline Smith-Lee, Andy Torres, Freda T. Vanterpool, Walter White, and Eddie Wright Jr.  Tom H. John was responsible for the scenic design, Bernard Johnson did the costume design, lighting design was done by Thomas Skelton, and Sander Hacker did the sound design.  Total nominations include:

Tony Awards: Best Actor in a Musical (Robert Guillaume), Best Actress in a Musical (Ernestine Jackson), and Most Innovative Production of a Revival.

Drama Desk Award: Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Robert Guillaume), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Ernestine Jackson).

Theatre World: Award (Ken Page).

 

Sources:

Look Back at the All-Black 1976 Revival of Guys and Dolls On Broadway, Playbill 
Guys and Dolls, A Musical Fable of Broadway, IBDB

 

Anna Owens