THE BRAND NEW LUCKY DIAMOND HORSESHOE CLUB (2004) – A Calypso Musical [Blues Kaiso in Jouvay Opera] with book by Tony Hall, lyrics and music by David Rudder, premiered on July 17th 2004 at Crossroads Repertory Theatre (formerly Summer Stage), Indiana State University, Terre Haute and was performed at Queens Hall, Port of Spain, for Carnival 2006, February 8th to 24th. Lucky Diamond won the 2005/20
06 Cacique Award for The Most Outstanding Original Music in a theatre production. "The Test of Fire at Indiana State University"
David Rudder and Tony Hall first staged their Kaiso Blues "Jouvay Opera" as a 2004 Summerstage production at Indiana State University (ISU), produced by Arthur Feinsod, the Artistic Director of the summer festival now known as the Crossroads Repertory Theater. Terre Haute, Indiana, a Midwestern city established literally at the"crossroads" of the United States (the point at which the old National north - south and east - west highways intersected.) was the appropriate setting to mediate the intersection of cultures that brought this exciting new genre of musical theater to life. Fortunately, Tony Hall and Dr. Feinsod had developed a working relationship at Trinity College, Hartford, CT, where Arthur had produced Tony’s Jean and Dinah and Derek Walcott’s Ti Jean and His Brothers, which Tony directed. The artistic team assembled in Indiana included not only Tony and Arthur but also Trinidadian choreographer Stephen Hankey, who had collaborated with Tony, André Tanker and Peter Minshall on the Trinity production of Walcott's play. Workshopping a production that required musical directors Jeremy Ledbetter (David Rudder's associate in Toronto) and ISU's Kathy Anderson to communicate internationally, as Kathy learned how to capture the essential rhythms of a musical drama set in an intimate Trinidad Club, which is simultaneously a brand new kind of Calypso Tent and a metaphysical arena in which the "children of a lesser kind of God" struggle to find the equilibrium needed not only in their own lives but implicitly by all humanity struggling to live together in too little space, with too much on their minds. Some of the core of the Indiana production remains in this new staging of The Lucky Diamond. In addition to Tony, David, Stephen, and Musical Director Jeremy Ledbetter, the Trinidad production brings Trinidadian-born cast members Rhoma Spencer (Prune Face Jean, the proprietress of the Lucky Diamond), Quweina ‘Qu’ Roberts (Sheila), and Conrad Parris (Delilah) together again with Indiana State University student Anthony J. Though they are not physically present in Trinidad, the spirit of Lew Hackleman (Mista Nation), Mark Douglas-Jones ( Indiana’s Singh), and Peter Papadopoulos (Indiana’s Simple Simon) enrich the Trinidad performances. The enormous leaps of faith taken by Musical Director Kathy Anderson and her gifted team of musicians, choric singers, and dancers helped to engage Indiana audiences that sat in rapt attention for every moving moment of a play they could embrace because they were able to find in the music and the performances the basis for common human empathy, even as they struggled to understand both the language and the world of the play intellectually. The Indiana production -- itself a testimonial to the miraculous power of human faith and loyalty to bridge the divides of race, ethnicity, and nation -- has provided the solid foundation for this more epic offering. Milla Cozart Riggio
Professor of English, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Coordinator, Trinity-in-Trinidad Global Learning Site, Curepe, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.
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This play is for Arthur Feinsod and is dedicated to the memory of Andre Tanker.
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THE BRAND NEW LUCKY DIAMOND HORSESHOE CLUB (2004) was originally produced by Indiana State University's Crossroads Repertory Theatre (formerly SummerStage), Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A. Artistic Director - Arthur Feinsod
Producing Director - David Del Colletti
Musical Directors - Jeremy Ledbetter and Kathy Anderson
Director - Tony Hall
Dramaturg - Christopher Berchild
Scenic Designer - Linda Janosko
Lighting Designer - R. Michael Ingraham
Costume Designer - Sherry McFadden
Make-up Designer - Ben Snyder
Choreographer - Stephen D. Hankey
Associate Choreograher - Teresa McCullough
The Indiana Cast 2004
Actors
Michael Samson, Mr. Edwards, Malcolm Samuels - Nicholas Few
Ramdass Ramkerrysingh "Singh" - Mark Douglas-Jones
Royston McDonal Turpin "Walkin' Death" - David Orr
Mista Nation "Old Patience" - Lew Hackleman
Sheila Crichlow "Chinee" - Quweina Roberts
Delilah - Conrad Parris
Jean Sharpe "Prune Face" - Rhoma Spencer
Simon Silver "Silverstein" - Peter Papadopoulos
Singing Chorus
Anthony Davis, Julie Dixon, Brett Eldredge, Ann Venable
Movement Chorus
Kelsey Hanlon, Sarah Morris, Ben Snyder, Andrea Renee Swift
Musicians
Keyboard - Alan L. Alder
Bass - Matthew S. Elkins
Percussion and Drums - Travis Morris
Guitar - Jimmy Rinehart
Production Staff
Stage Manager - Tresa Makosky
Assistant Stage Manager - Lindsay Smith
Light Board Operator - Aislinn Story
Follow Spot Operators - Samantha Macy, Steven Yeagley
Sound Operator - Dominic Abbenante
Wardrobe Head - Scott Russell Keith
Property Crew - Samuel J. Mikeworth
Stage Crew - Eric Wilburn
Dressers - Elizabeth Ann Bryant, Clair Hummel
House Manager - Carolyn Rodkey
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FOR THE TRINIDAD PRODUCTION (2006)
Lordstreet Theatre Company and David Rudder mounted a Trinidad production at Queens Hall, Port of Spain, Trinidad, for Carnival 2006. Lucky Diamond won the 2005-2006 Cacique Award for The Most Outstanding Original Music. Executive Producer - Derwin Howell
Producers - Tony Hall, David Rudder, Naima Mohammed
Director - Tony Hall
Musical Arranger - Jeremy Ledbetter
Scenic Designers - Christopher Cozier and Sean Leonard
Lighting Designer - Kenneth Joseph
Sound Designer - Robin Foster
Costume Designer - Merylle Mahabir
Make-up Designer: - Lester Rauseo
Choreographer - Stephen Hankey
The Trinidad Cast 2006
Actors
Simon Silver “Silverstein” - Maurice Brash
Michael Samson, Malcolm Samuels - Michael Cherrie
Royston McDonald Turpin “Walkin' Death” - Marvin George
Henry Nathaniel "Delilah" - Conrad Parris
Mista Nation “Old Patience” - Errol Roberts
Sheila Crichlow “Chinee” - Quweina Roberts
Ramdass Ramkerrysingh “Singh” - Errol Sitahal
Jean Sharpe “Prune Face” - Rhoma Spencer
Singing Chorus
Anthony J. Davis, Camille Quamina, CarolineTaylor, Stefan Williams
Movement Chorus
Karla Gonzales, Josanne James, Megan Navarro, Natalie Joseph-Settle, Deon Baptiste, Ian Baptiste, Delton Frank, Clevand Serries
Musicians
Keyboard and Steel Drums - Jeremy Ledbetter
Keyboard - Kenneth Baptiste
Bass - Albert Bushe
Drums - Barry Howard
Percussion - Everald Watson
Guitar - Wayne Bruno
Trumpet - Haydn Robin
Production Staff
Production Manager - Naima Mohammed
Stage Manager - Ed De Shae
Assistant Stage Manager: - Leslynne Matthews
Technical Director - Kenneth Joseph
Wardrobe Head - Camille Harding
Dresser - Sarah De Silva
Property Supervisor - Leslynne Matthews
Property Makers - Lari Richardson, Leslynne Matthews
Photography – Jeffrey Chock
Costume Production - Margaret Shepherd
Set Contruction - Rudolph “Murphy” Winters”, Colin Clark, Oloff, Shane Donmore
Graphic Design - Christopher Cozier, Dexter Lewis
Production Assistants - Leon De Freitas, Jair Massiah
Box Office Assistant - Natalie Dowers
This work was commissioned by Arthur Feinsod and was originally produced by Indiana State University's Crossroads Repertory Theatre (formerly SummerStage), Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A. Record Label:
Lypsoland/Lordstreet
