The Great White Hope (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1968) | Playbill

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The Great White Hope

Broadway
Play
Original

The Great White Hope Playbill - Oct 1968
The Great White Hope Playbill - Oct 1968


SYNOPSIS:

African-American boxing champion Jack Jefferson, who is loosely modeled on his real-life counterpart, Jack Johnson, suffers racism due to his success and his relationship with a white woman, in Howard Sackler's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.

People (88)
  • Thomas Barbour
    Thomas Barbour
    Sir William Griswold
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • David Connell
    David Connell
    Barker
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Pailman
    (Original)
  • Sheila Coonan
    Sheila Coonan
    Mrs. Kimball
    (Original)
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
  • George Curley
    George Curley
    Mr. Farlow
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Stage Hand
    (Original)
    Weigher-in
    (Original)
  • Jon Cypher
    Jon Cypher
    Klossowski
    (Original)
    Mr. Cameron (D.A.)
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • Marshall Efron
    Marshall Efron
    Ragosy
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • Hector Elizondo
    Hector Elizondo
    Blackface
    (Original)
    El Jefe
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    French Handler
    (Original)
    Trainer
    (Original)
  • Joseph Hamer
    Joseph Hamer
    Bettor
    (Original)
    Mr. M. Bratby
    (Original)
    Ensemble
    (Original)
  • George Harris II
    George Harris II
    Tout
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Mexican
    (Original)
    Policeman
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
    Waiter
    (Original)
  • Garwood Perkins
    Garwood Perkins
    Deacon
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Dan Priest
    Dan Priest
    Colonel Cox
    (Original)
    2nd Man on Ladder
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
  • Michael Prince
    Michael Prince
    Mr. Donnelly
    (Original)
    Crap Player
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Gil Rogers
    Gil Rogers
    Brady
    (Original)
    Inspector Wainwright
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
  • Larry Swanson
    Larry Swanson
    Mr. Eubanks
    (Original)
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Handler
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Mel Winkler
    Mel Winkler
    Rudy
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
  • Max Wright
    Max Wright
    Mr. Coates
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Edd K. Gasper
    Edd K. Gasper
    Mr. M. Bratby
    (Replacement)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
    Government Agent
    (Original)
    Ranger
    (Original)
    Trainer
    (Replacement)
  • Robert Hodge
    Robert Hodge
    Bettor
    (Replacement)
    Civic Leader
    (Replacement)
    Civic Marcher
    (Replacement)
    Fight Fan
    (Replacement)
    Reporter
    (Replacement)
  • Clark Morgan
    Clark Morgan
    Pastor
    (Replacement)
    A Distinguished Negro
    (Original)
    Ensemble
    (Original)
  • Ted Tiller
    Ted Tiller
    Mr. Treacher
    (Replacement)
    Civic Marcher
    (Replacement)
    Man at Fight
    (Replacement)
    Pinkerton Man
    (Replacement)
  • Thomas Anderson
    Thomas Anderson
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Negro Man
    (Original)
  • Verona Barnes
    Verona Barnes
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Don Blakely
    Don Blakely
    An African Student
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Dave Brown
    Dave Brown
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Burke Byrnes
    Burke Byrnes
    1st Man on Ladder
    (Original)
    Crap Player
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
    Policeman
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Lance Cunard
    Lance Cunard
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Handler
    (Original)
    Porter
    (Original)
    Trainer
    (Original)
  • Luis Espinosa
    Luis Espinosa
    Cuban Boy
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Joanna Featherstone
    Joanna Featherstone
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Robert Horen
    Robert Horen
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Mexican
    (Original)
    Official
    (Original)
    Pinkerton Man
    (Original)
    Promoter
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Ed Lauter
    Ed Lauter
    Crap Player
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Pinkerton Man
    (Original)
    Policeman
    (Original)
    Stage Hand
    (Original)
  • Jerry Laws
    Jerry Laws
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Philip Lindsay
    Philip Lindsay
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Negro Man
    (Original)
  • Edward McNally
    Edward McNally
    Detective
    (Original)
    Ensemble
    (Original)
    Roller
    (Original)
  • Lou Meyer
    Lou Meyer
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Juggler
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • Richard Pittman
    Richard Pittman
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Danette Small
    Danette Small
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Yvonne Southerland
    Yvonne Southerland
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Signature Recorder
    (Original)
  • Glory Van Scott
    Glory Van Scott
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Sean J. Walsh
    Sean J. Walsh
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Ranger
    (Original)
    The Kid
    (Original)
  • Ruby Greene
    Ruby Greene
    Contributor
    (Replacement)
    Jack's Friend
    (Replacement)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Replacement)
    Mourner
    (Replacement)
  • Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    Deputy
    (Replacement)
    Detective
    (Replacement)
    Fight Fan
    (Replacement)
    Roller
    (Replacement)
  • John Byrd
    John Byrd
    Contributor
    (Replacement)
    Jack's Friend
    (Replacement)
    Mourner
    (Replacement)
    Rudy's Teammate
    (Replacement)
  • Nathan George
    Nathan George
    Drummer
    (Replacement)
    Jack's Friend
    (Replacement)
    Mourner
    (Replacement)
    Rudy's Teammate
    (Replacement)
    Young Negro
    (Replacement)
  • Carl Gordon
    Carl Gordon
    A Distinguished Negro
    (Replacement)
    Contributor
    (Replacement)
    Mourner
    (Replacement)
  • Barbara Johnson
    Barbara Johnson
    Contributor
    (Replacement)
    Jack's Friend
    (Replacement)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Replacement)
    Mourner
    (Replacement)
View All Current Cast
  • Thomas Barbour
    Thomas Barbour
    Sir William Griswold
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • David Connell
    David Connell
    Barker
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Pailman
    (Original)
  • Sheila Coonan
    Sheila Coonan
    Mrs. Kimball
    (Original)
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
  • George Curley
    George Curley
    Mr. Farlow
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Stage Hand
    (Original)
    Weigher-in
    (Original)
  • Jon Cypher
    Jon Cypher
    Klossowski
    (Original)
    Mr. Cameron (D.A.)
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • Marshall Efron
    Marshall Efron
    Ragosy
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • Hector Elizondo
    Hector Elizondo
    Blackface
    (Original)
    El Jefe
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    French Handler
    (Original)
    Trainer
    (Original)
  • Joseph Hamer
    Joseph Hamer
    Bettor
    (Original)
    Mr. M. Bratby
    (Original)
    Ensemble
    (Original)
  • George Harris II
    George Harris II
    Tout
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Mexican
    (Original)
    Policeman
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
    Waiter
    (Original)
  • Garwood Perkins
    Garwood Perkins
    Deacon
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Dan Priest
    Dan Priest
    Colonel Cox
    (Original)
    2nd Man on Ladder
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
  • Michael Prince
    Michael Prince
    Mr. Donnelly
    (Original)
    Crap Player
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Gil Rogers
    Gil Rogers
    Brady
    (Original)
    Inspector Wainwright
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
  • Larry Swanson
    Larry Swanson
    Mr. Eubanks
    (Original)
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Handler
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Mel Winkler
    Mel Winkler
    Rudy
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
  • Max Wright
    Max Wright
    Mr. Coates
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Thomas Anderson
    Thomas Anderson
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Negro Man
    (Original)
  • Verona Barnes
    Verona Barnes
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Don Blakely
    Don Blakely
    An African Student
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Dave Brown
    Dave Brown
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Burke Byrnes
    Burke Byrnes
    1st Man on Ladder
    (Original)
    Crap Player
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
    Policeman
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Lance Cunard
    Lance Cunard
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Handler
    (Original)
    Porter
    (Original)
    Trainer
    (Original)
  • Luis Espinosa
    Luis Espinosa
    Cuban Boy
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Joanna Featherstone
    Joanna Featherstone
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Edd K. Gasper
    Edd K. Gasper
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    German Officer
    (Original)
    Government Agent
    (Original)
    Ranger
    (Original)
  • Robert Horen
    Robert Horen
    Civic Leader
    (Original)
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Mexican
    (Original)
    Official
    (Original)
    Pinkerton Man
    (Original)
    Promoter
    (Original)
    Reporter
    (Original)
  • Ed Lauter
    Ed Lauter
    Crap Player
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Pinkerton Man
    (Original)
    Policeman
    (Original)
    Stage Hand
    (Original)
  • Jerry Laws
    Jerry Laws
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Philip Lindsay
    Philip Lindsay
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Negro Man
    (Original)
  • Edward McNally
    Edward McNally
    Detective
    (Original)
    Ensemble
    (Original)
    Roller
    (Original)
  • Lou Meyer
    Lou Meyer
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Fight Fan
    (Original)
    Juggler
    (Original)
    Man at Fight
    (Original)
  • Clark Morgan
    Clark Morgan
    A Distinguished Negro
    (Original)
    Ensemble
    (Original)
  • Richard Pittman
    Richard Pittman
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Danette Small
    Danette Small
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Yvonne Southerland
    Yvonne Southerland
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Member of The Congregation
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
    Signature Recorder
    (Original)
  • Glory Van Scott
    Glory Van Scott
    Contributor
    (Original)
    Jack's Friend
    (Original)
    Mourner
    (Original)
  • Sean J. Walsh
    Sean J. Walsh
    Civic Marcher
    (Original)
    Deputy
    (Original)
    Photographer
    (Original)
    Ranger
    (Original)
    The Kid
    (Original)
View All Cast
View All Production Team

Pro Info

  • Opening Date
    Oct 3 1968
  • Closing Date
    Jan 31 1970
  • Previews
    15
  • Performances
    546 as of Dec 04, 2025

Inside The Playbill

The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night
The Great White Hope - Opening Night

Awards

Drama Desk Award
1969 Outstanding Performance Winner
1969 Outstanding Performance Winner
1969 Outstanding Director Winner
New York Drama Critics' Circle
1969 Best Play Winner
Outer Critics Circle
1969 Outstanding Director of a Play Winner
Pulitzer Prize
1969 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Winner
Theatre World Awards
1969 Theatre World Award Winner
1969 Theatre World Award Winner
Tony Award
1969 Best Featured Actress in a Play Winner
1969 Best Actor in a Play Winner
1969 Play Winner
Photos
HR - James Earl Jones 2.JPG
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