Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1939 Brown, Ralph performer Miller, Taps performer Rowe, Norman performer Theatrical Performance 1939-02-11 Hudson Theater A Harlem rhapsody (musical revue) in two acts, 21 scenes. Produced by Lew Leslie. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Music by Rube Bloom. Additional music by George Gershwin. Entire show conceived and staged by Lew Leslie. Vocal arrangements by J. Rosamonde Johnson. Dances by Eugene Von Grona. Opened 11 February 1939 at the Hudson Theatre and closed 18 February 1939 after 9 performances. Cast: Lena Horne, Ralph Brown, Taps Miller. Chorus of Blackbirds Beauties includes Cleo Hayes; Dancing chorus: Baby Simmons, Marion Egber, Marie Robinson, Cleo Hayes, Evelyn Shapard, Muriel Cook, Madelyn Donable, Lucia Moses, Juanita Boisseau, Eva Bradley, Peggy Sheppard, Gladys Clayton; Chorus of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers included Norma Miller. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Norton Anthology of Drama: Norton Anthology of Drama: Nineteenth Century to the Present (Vol. 2). W.W. Norton & Company (2009). Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html Ralph Brown (biography) loc.music.tdabio.39 tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.1625