Cabin in the Sky is a 1940 Broadway musical with music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John Latouche, and a book by Lynn Root. The title tune, sung as a duet by Petunia and Little Joe, appears in a story about Little Joe’s near death and a chance to redeem himself, a parable of Southern Negro life. The original Broadway production opened on October 25, 1940 at the Martin Beck Theatre, starring Ethel Waters as Petunia and Dooley Wilson as Little Joe, and ran 156 performances. A 1940 album called The Music of Cabin in the Sky featuring Ethel Waters accompanied the show, and a 1943 film adaptation followed. The score blends Broadway jazz with gospel influences, and the production involved Balanchine in choreography.
