The Connection (play)

Original cast

• Jim Dunn – Leonard Hicks
• Jaybird – Ira Lewis
• Leach – Warren Finnerty
• Solly – Jerome Raphel
• Sam – John McCurry
• Ernie – Garry Goodrow
• 1st Musician – Freddie Redd
• 4th Musician – Michael Mattos
• First Photographer – Louis McKenzie
• Second Photographer – Jamil Zakkai
• 2nd Musician – Jackie McLean
• 3rd Musician – Larry Ritchie
• Harry – Henry Proach
• Sister Salvation – Barbara Winchester
• Cowboy – Carl Lee
• Man in audience – Martin Sheen

  Production credits

• Written by Jack Gelber
• Directed by Judith Malina
• Designed by Julian Beck

  Awards and honors

1959–60 Village Voice Obie Awards

• Obie Award for Best New Play
• Obie Award for Best All-Around Production
• Obie Award for Best Actor - Warren Finnerty

  1959–60 Vernon Rice Awards

• Vernon Rice Award for outstanding achievement in the off-broadway theatre - Jack Gelber

  Other

• Grand Prix for Best Play at the Theatre des Nacions, Paris, 1960

  Related works

• The Connection, produced by Lewis M. Allen, directed by Shirley Clarke, 1961. Released on DVD, Jazz Movie Classics/EFORFILMS 2869032

• The Music from "The Connection", music composed by Freddie Redd, with Freddie Redd, Jackie McLean, Michael Mattos and Larry Ritchie, February 15, 1960, Blue Note, BLP 4027 /BST 84027. Released on CD, Blue Note 89392.
• Music from the Connection, different recording of the above score, issued as under Howard McGhee, with Tina Brooks, I. Ching, Milt Hinton and Osie Johnson
• The Music from "The Connection", rewritten score by Cecil Payne and Kenny Drew, Conducted by Cecil Payne, with Cecil Payne, Clark Terry, Bennie Green, Duke Jordan, Ron Carter and Charlie Persip, 1962, Charlie Parker Records PLP 806

• London, 1960
• Los Angeles, 1961 (with new compositions by Dexter Gordon, who also played "Number One Musician"
• European Tour, 1962: Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands
• London, 1974, at Hampstead Theatre Club with Bill Wallis, John Ratzenberger, Harry Ditson, Mark Russel, Richard Moore, and Philip Hinton. Directed by Michael Rudman
• New York, 1981, with Morgan Freeman as Cowboy
• Chicago, 1992, the inaugural production of A Red Orchid Theatre, featuring Michael Shannon and Guy Van Swearingen
• New York, 2009, 50th Anniversary Production at the Living Theatre, directed by Judith Malina, music director Rene McLean
• Seattle, 2011, Sight by Sound productions, directed by Gavin Reub in The Little Theater