Hartt To Present PORGY AND BESS, Opens 12/1

The Hartt School of the University of Hartford presents America's great folk opera Porgy and Bess – A Study in Black and White (Abridged) on Thursday, December 1, at 7:30 PM in Millard Auditorium, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. Using the platform of the impoverished community of Catfish Row in the 1920s, Porgy and Bess tells a timeless story of the triumph of the human spirit over tragedy. Come and experience this amazing work, as Hartt's talented undergraduate singers explore this unique treasure of American opera and break down racial stereotypes. Ron Luchsinger directs, with music direction and conducting by Doris Lang Kosloff. Admission is free. Please call the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt for more information.

Hartt's cast is lead by sophomores Tre'Von Bray from Lanham, MD, as Porgy, and Shantal Russell from Suitland, MD, as Bess, and also features (in order of solo vocal entrance): Melanie Silvernail (Clara); Garrett Matthews (Robbins; Crab Man); Paulo Rouquayrol (Jim), Jacob Boergesson (Jake); Zachary Gilbert (Peter); Sara Mellas (Lily); Jenna Ivaniec (Maria); Jared Felch (Mingo); Darius Lee (Sporting Life); Elizabeth Oman (Serena); Marcus Odom (Crown); Sara Grace Dodge (Soloist at the Wake); Maayan Harel (Annie); Danielle Recchia (Strawberry Woman); Elliot Howard (Detective); Melissa Ciociolo, Greta Moorhead, and Genna Rubenstein (Ensemble).

Hartt's production is well timed, since an accomplishEd Hartt graduate is about to begin performances in the limited engagement of the newest Broadway incarnation of the show. Hartt alumnus Phillip Boykin, who portrayed Crown in the American Repertory Theater's recent sold-out world premiere production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, will reprise his role in the New York production, which opens for previews at the Richard Rodgers Theater on December 17, with the official opening scheduled for January 12. Visit www.porgyandbessonbroadway.com for details, and visit www.broadwaysbestshows.com/spotlight/64 to read an interview with Boykin, who makes his Broadway debut in the show.

The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts school of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded in 1920, Hartt has been an integral part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the then Hartt School of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the University in 1957. 2010 markEd Hartt's 90th year of providing world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions a year, performance is central to Hartt's curriculum. For more information about The Hartt School, visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.