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When Hell Freezes Over I'll SkateOpening Date: May 1, 1979
Closing Date: May, 1979 Air date: June 27, 1979 Medium: TV Where to watch: DVD (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link) |
Stage Production Notes
Billed as “a celebration of the joy and survival of black music, song and poetry since the days of America's Civil War,” When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate was a musical drama presented by the Urban Arts Corps (UAC). The piece featured the works of Black poets, including lindamichellebaron, Julian Bond, Linda Cousins, Countee Cullen, Walt Delegal, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Jacqueline Earley, Paula Giddings, Sam Greenlee, Langston Hughes, Saundra Sharp, and Quincy Troupe.
The award-winning and highly influential Vinnette Carroll founded UAC in 1967 with the goal of developing the careers of Black and Hispanic actors in New York City. Several UAC productions transferred to Broadway, including Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1972), Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1976), and But Never Jam Today (1979). With Don’t Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Carroll became one of the first Black female directors on Broadway. She was also the first Black female director to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Director.
When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate was part of UAC’s 1978-79 season, which continued to feature new works by black writers. The revue featured the talents of Cleavant Derricks, Clinton Derricks-Carroll, Lynne Thigpen, Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Brenda Braxton, Reginald VelJohnson and Marilynn Winbush.
The production opened at the Urban Arts Corps Theatre in January 1979. It ran for approximately 12 performances.
Reviewer Richard F. Shepard described the show as a “delectable feast.”
On May 1, 1979 When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate opened at Lincoln Center as part of the Black Theatre Festival U.S.A. at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre.
The production later played in Florida at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in July, 1983.
When Hell Freezes Over was produced at the Kennedy Center in 1984. While the production received generally positive reviews, it was a commercial flop.
The musical revue was also produced in a pre-Broadway tryout at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia in 1984, however the transfer did not eventuate.
Billed as “a celebration of the joy and survival of black music, song and poetry since the days of America's Civil War,” When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate was a musical drama presented by the Urban Arts Corps (UAC). The piece featured the works of Black poets, including lindamichellebaron, Julian Bond, Linda Cousins, Countee Cullen, Walt Delegal, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Jacqueline Earley, Paula Giddings, Sam Greenlee, Langston Hughes, Saundra Sharp, and Quincy Troupe.
The award-winning and highly influential Vinnette Carroll founded UAC in 1967 with the goal of developing the careers of Black and Hispanic actors in New York City. Several UAC productions transferred to Broadway, including Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1972), Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1976), and But Never Jam Today (1979). With Don’t Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Carroll became one of the first Black female directors on Broadway. She was also the first Black female director to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Director.
When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate was part of UAC’s 1978-79 season, which continued to feature new works by black writers. The revue featured the talents of Cleavant Derricks, Clinton Derricks-Carroll, Lynne Thigpen, Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Brenda Braxton, Reginald VelJohnson and Marilynn Winbush.
The production opened at the Urban Arts Corps Theatre in January 1979. It ran for approximately 12 performances.
Reviewer Richard F. Shepard described the show as a “delectable feast.”
On May 1, 1979 When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate opened at Lincoln Center as part of the Black Theatre Festival U.S.A. at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre.
The production later played in Florida at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in July, 1983.
When Hell Freezes Over was produced at the Kennedy Center in 1984. While the production received generally positive reviews, it was a commercial flop.
The musical revue was also produced in a pre-Broadway tryout at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia in 1984, however the transfer did not eventuate.
Filmed Production Notes
When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate was filmed live during its run at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center. It was filmed in front of a live audience over three performances.
The revue aired on television on Channel 13’s Theater in America at 9 p.m. on June 27, 1979. The program was a shortened hour-length version of the stage show, and was directed by Vinnette Carroll and Emile Ardolino (who later directed Dirty Dancing and Sister Act). The revue was one of the final Theater in America programs to air on PBS.
Writing for The New York Times, reviewer John J. O'Connor noted “This is celebration, pure and not quite so simple as it looks.”
The program was re-aired on February 13, 1980 on Channel 13’s Great Performances.
The Broadway Theatre Archive released When Hell Freezes Over on VHS in 1999. Kultur released the DVD in 2003.
The revue was screened during the Harlem Week 2003 Black Film Festival.
When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate is available to view on DVD (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
When Hell Freezes Over I’ll Skate was filmed live during its run at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center. It was filmed in front of a live audience over three performances.
The revue aired on television on Channel 13’s Theater in America at 9 p.m. on June 27, 1979. The program was a shortened hour-length version of the stage show, and was directed by Vinnette Carroll and Emile Ardolino (who later directed Dirty Dancing and Sister Act). The revue was one of the final Theater in America programs to air on PBS.
Writing for The New York Times, reviewer John J. O'Connor noted “This is celebration, pure and not quite so simple as it looks.”
The program was re-aired on February 13, 1980 on Channel 13’s Great Performances.
The Broadway Theatre Archive released When Hell Freezes Over on VHS in 1999. Kultur released the DVD in 2003.
The revue was screened during the Harlem Week 2003 Black Film Festival.
When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate is available to view on DVD (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Learn more about the filming of When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate on episode 5 of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast, with special guest Tony nominee Brenda Braxton. Available on all podcast apps.
When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Urban Arts Theatre, New York
Producer: Urban Arts Corps
Music: Cleavant Derricks and Clinton Derricks-Carroll
Director: Vinnette Carroll, Film: Vinnette Carroll, Emile Ardolino
Musical Director: Cleavant Derricks
Scenic Design: Marty Knoell
Costume Design: Pearl Somner
Lighting Design: Rick Belzer, Film: Ralph Holmes
Stage Manager: Gerard Campbell
Cast:
Cleavant Derricks, Clinton Derricks-Carroll, Lynne Thigpen, Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Brenda Braxton, Reginald VelJohnson, Marilynn Winbush
Theatre: Urban Arts Theatre, New York
Producer: Urban Arts Corps
Music: Cleavant Derricks and Clinton Derricks-Carroll
Director: Vinnette Carroll, Film: Vinnette Carroll, Emile Ardolino
Musical Director: Cleavant Derricks
Scenic Design: Marty Knoell
Costume Design: Pearl Somner
Lighting Design: Rick Belzer, Film: Ralph Holmes
Stage Manager: Gerard Campbell
Cast:
Cleavant Derricks, Clinton Derricks-Carroll, Lynne Thigpen, Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Brenda Braxton, Reginald VelJohnson, Marilynn Winbush
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Dan Dietz, Off Broadway Musicals, 1910 - 2007: Casts, Credits, Songs, Critical Reception and Performance Data of More Than 1,800 Shows, McFarland (2012)
- Thomas S. Hischak, Enter the Playmakers: Directors and Choreographers on the New York Stage, Scarecrow Press (2006)
- Woodie King, The Impact of Race: Theatre and Culture, Hal Leonard Corporation (2003)
- Ed. Laura MacDonald and William A. Everett, The Palgrave Handbook of Musical Theatre Producers, Springer (2017)
- Jerry Roberts, Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, Scarecrow Press (2009)
Articles
- Peter Bailey, “Black Theatre Festival—U.S.A.” Ebony Magazine (Oct, 1979) p.107-114
- Bernard Carragher, “Black Theater Has Moved Beyond Revolution,” New York Times (April 29, 1979)
- Murdoch McBride, “Broadway Theatre Archive To Make Theatre Videos Available By End of Year,” Playbill (Dec 10, 1999)
- Robert McNatt, “Risky Business of Broadway,” Black Enterprise (Dec 1983) p.69-76
- John J. O’Connor, “TV: Urban Arts Salutes Black Music and Poetry,” New York Times (June 27, 1979), p. 78
- David Richards, “'When Hell Freezes': Free-Floating Energy,” The Washington Post (May 7, 1984)
- Richard F. Shepard, “Revue: ‘When Hell Freezes Over’” New York Times (Feb 14, 1979) p. 18
- Uncredited, “Television This Week: Of Special Interest,” New York Times (June 24, 1979), p. 36
- Uncredited, “Television,” New York Times (Feb 13, 1980), p. C27
- Uncredited, “Vinnette Carroll, Writer of Broadway Musical ‘Your Arms Too Short to Box With God,’ Dies at 80,” Jet Magazine (Nov 25, 2002) p. 18
- Uncredited, “Spare Times," New York Times (Aug 22, 2003)
Websites
- The New York Public Library, “Archives and Manuscripts: Urban Arts Corps records, 1955 - 1983” Accessed via: http://archives.nypl.org/scm/21883
- The New York Public Library, “Urban Arts Corps Records,” Accessed via: http://archives.nypl.org/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/mg210.pdf
- New York Public Library, “When hell freezes over, I'll skate,” Accessed via: https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb17536081__Swhen%20hell%20freezes%20over%20I%27ll%20skate__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=def
Written by Luisa Lyons (November, 2017)