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Ira Gershwin Headshot

Ira Gershwin

Also Credited As: Arthur Francis

Date of Death: August 17, 1983 (86)

Birth Place: New York, NY

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BIO

Ira Gershwin, the first songwriter to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was born in New York City on December 6, 1896. In 1917 The Evening Sun published his first song ("You May Throw All The Rice You Desire But Please Friends, Throw No Shoes"). Four years later Ira enjoyed his first major stage success, Two Little Girls in Blue, written with another Broadway newcomer, Vincent Youmans. In 1924 Ira and his brother, George, created the smash hit Lady Be Good and went on to continue their remarkable collaboration through a dozen major stage scores, producing such standards as "Fascinating Rhythm," "The Man I Love," "S' Wonderful," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," "But Not For Me" and others far too numerous to mention. During his long career, Ira also enjoyed productive collaborations with such songwriters as Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Kurt Weill, Burton Lane and Jerome Kern, with whom he created his greatest song hit of any one year, "Long Ago And Far Away." Ira Gershwin died on August 17, 1983, in Beverly Hills, California.

Photos

Productions

Crazy For YouCrazy For You
 
[West End, 2023]
Music & Lyrics
An American in ParisAn American in Paris
 
[Broadway, 2015]
Music and Lyrics
Lady, Be Good!Lady, Be Good!
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015]
Lyrics
An American in Paris
 
[Paris, 2014]
Lyricist
Ziegfeld Follies of 1936
 
[Broadway, 1936]
Director
Lyrics
Director
Lyrics

Writing

Lyricist
Music & Lyrics
Be Yourself
Lyricist
Do It Again!
Lyricist
Lyricist
The Firebrand of Florence
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
Funny Face
Lyricist
Lyricist
George Gershwin Alone
Composer/Lyricist
The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm
Lyricist
Composer/Lyricist
Girl Crazy
Lyricist
Lady in the Dark
Lyricist
Lyricist
Let 'Em Eat Cake
Lyricist
Lyricist
Life Begins at 8:40
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
LoveMusik
Lyricist
Lyricist
Mr. Words
Lyricist
Oh, Kay!
Lyricist
Lyricist
Pardon My English
Lyricist
Lyricist
Park Avenue
Lyricist
Lyricist
Porgy and Bess
Lyricist
Lyricist
Primrose
Lyricist
Rosalie
Lyricist
Lyricist
Show Girl
Lyricist
Lyricist
Stairway to Paradise
Sketches/Composer/Lyricist
Strike Up the Band
Lyricist
Lyricist
Tell Me More!
Lyricist
Lyricist
Tip-Toes
Lyricist
Lyricist
Treasure Girl
Lyricist
Lyricist
Ziegfeld Follies of 1936
Lyricist
Lyricist

Awards and Nominations


winner
Olivier Awards - 1993 - The American Express Award for Best New Musical

Ira Gershwin, Crazy For You


winner
The Pulitzer Prize - 1932 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Ira Gershwin, Of Thee I Sing

Videos

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News


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by Richard Jay-Alexander - May 15, 2025

Ms. Kazan was on my radar for as long as I can remember when I started to get interested in theatre, music and show business and had “secret” subscriptions to magazines that focused on those passions.
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South Coast Repertory Reveals 2025/26 Season
by Stephi Wild - May 8, 2025

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Spotlight: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS at JCC CenterStage
by BWW Special Offer - May 7, 2025

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by Josh Sharpe - May 1, 2025

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by A.A. Cristi - Apr 30, 2025

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AN AMERICAN IN PARIS to Screen at Jaffrey’s Park Theatre Photo
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by Josh Sharpe - Apr 8, 2025

An American in Paris will be shown on The Park Theatre’s Big Screen, Saturday, April 26, at 7 pm. Winner of 6 Oscars, the film is a glorious, Technicolor paean to the golden age of the Hollywood musical. 
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by Stephi Wild - Apr 3, 2025

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by Sidney Paterra - Mar 30, 2025

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by Sidney Paterra - Mar 4, 2025

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by Stephi Wild - Feb 27, 2025

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Ira Gershwin written?

Ira Gershwin has written 48 shows including Two Little Girls in Blue (Lyricist), For Goodness Sake (Lyricist), George White's Scandals [1922] (Lyricist), Be Yourself (Lyricist), Primrose (Lyricist), Lady, Be Good (Lyricist), Tell Me More! (Lyricist), Tip-Toes (Lyricist), Oh, Kay! (Lyricist), Strike Up the Band (Lyricist), Funny Face (Lyricist), Rosalie (Lyricist), Treasure Girl (Lyricist), Show Girl (Lyricist), Girl Crazy (Lyricist), Sweet and Low (Lyricist), Shoot the Works! (Lyricist), Of Thee I Sing (Lyricist), Pardon My English (Lyricist), Let 'Em Eat Cake (Lyricist), Life Begins at 8:40 (Lyricist), Porgy and Bess (Lyricist), Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 (Lyricist), All Points West (Lyricist), Lady in the Dark (Lyricist), The Firebrand of Florence (Lyricist), Park Avenue (Lyricist), Do It Again! (Lyricist), Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill (Lyricist), Mr. Words (Lyricist), A Kurt Weill Cabaret (Lyricist), My One and Only (Lyricist), Gertrude Stein and a Companion (Additional Music), Reaching for the Moon (Lyricist), Crazy for You (Lyricist), The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm (Composer/Lyricist), George Gershwin Alone (Composer/Lyricist), Elaine Stritch At Liberty (Lyricist), Never Gonna Dance (Lyricist), Here Lies Jenny (Lyricist), Here Lies Jenny (Lyricist), LoveMusik (Lyricist), Stairway to Paradise (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist), The Gershwins' An American In Paris (Lyricist), Come Fly Away (Lyricist), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Lyricist), A Night With Janis Joplin (Lyricist), A Star is Born (Music & Lyrics).

What awards has Ira Gershwin been nominated for?

Ira Gershwin has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of the notable nominations include the American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for "Crazy For You" and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for "Of Thee I Sing". These nominations highlight the recognition and acclaim that Ira Gershwin's work has received in the Broadway industry.

What awards has Ira Gershwin won?

Ira Gershwin has won several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable achievements include receiving the American Express Award for Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "Crazy For You." He also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Of Thee I Sing." These awards recognize his talent and contribution to the Broadway industry.

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