Sophisticated Ladies

Sophisticated Ladies
Original Poster
Music	Duke Ellington
Lyrics	Various
Book	Revue
Productions	1981 Broadway

Sophisticated Ladies is a musical revue based on the music of Duke Ellington.

After fifteen previews, the Broadway production, conceived by Donald McKayle, directed by Michael Smuin, and choreographed by McKayle, Smuin, Henry LeTang, Bruce Heath, and Mercedes Ellington, opened on March 1, 1981 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it ran for 767 performances. The original cast included Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle, Gregg Burge, and Mercer Ellington. Hines' older brother Maurice joined the cast later in the run.

The score includes "Mood Indigo," "Take the "A" Train", "I'm Beginning to See the Light", "Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce", "Perdido", "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart", "Old Man Blues", "In a Sentimental Mood", "Sophisticated Lady", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Satin Doll", and "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good", among many others.

Awards and nominations

• Tony Award for Best Musical (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Hines, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Battle, winner)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Hyman, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Costume Design (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Lighting Design (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
• Theatre World Award (Hyman, winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Burge, nominee)

External links

• Sophisticated Ladies at the Internet Broadway Database