BWW Polls: Do You Agree with Sondheim on THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS?

THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin has been re-imagined by A.R.T.'s Artistic Director Diane Paulus, Pulitzer prize-winning writer Suzan-Lori Parks, and two-time Obie winner Diedre Murray, and is heading to Broadway in December. In response to a recent article in the New York Times that explained director Diane Paulus' new vision for the production, theatre legend Stehen Sondheim wrote in to share his thoughts earlier this week.

Sondheim wrote: "The article by Mr. Healy about the coming revival of 'Porgy and Bess' is dismaying on many levels. To begin with, the title of the show is now 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess.' I assume that's in case anyone was worried it was the Rodgers and Hart "Porgy and Bess" that was coming to town. But what happened to DuBose Heyward? Most of the lyrics (and all of the good ones) are his alone ("Summertime," "My Man's Gone Now") or co-written with Ira Gershwin ("Bess, You Is My Woman Now"). If this billing is at the insistence of the Gershwin estate, they should be ashamed of themselves. If it's the producers' idea, it's just dumb." 

To read Sondheim's full letter, click here.

BroadwayWorld wants to know... what do you think about Diane Paulus changing up the show? Do you agree with Sondheim?

Tell us by visiting the latest BWW Poll HERE by Friday, August 19, 2011 at 11:59pm when the poll closes!