Ira Gershwin
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").
Date of Birth: December 06, 1896
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.
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Ira Gershwin, Crazy For You
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Ira Gershwin, Of Thee I Sing
Videos
Video: 'Naughty Baby' from CRAZY FOR YOU at Goodspeed Musicals
by Joshua Wright - 2026-08-12 13:36:30
Video: CRAZY FOR YOU Cast Performs 'I Got Rhythm' at The Goodspeed
by Michael Major - 2026-08-03 12:20:52
Video: 'Shall We Dance?' from CRAZY FOR YOU at Goodspeed Musicals
by Joshua Wright - 2026-07-29 17:06:07
Video: 'Embraceable You' from CRAZY FOR YOU at Goodspeed Musicals
by Joshua Wright - 2026-07-23 17:05:56
Video: 'Slap That Bass' from CRAZY FOR YOU at Goodspeed Musicals
by Joshua Wright - 2026-07-10 10:41:51
Exclusive: Watch Montego Glover Sing Gershwin with the New York Pops
by Nicole Rosky - 2024-02-16 15:00:54
VIDEO: First Look At Hershey Felder in GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE At TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
by Joshua Wright - 2024-02-01 12:50:53
News
by Gregory Fletcher - Oct 5, 2026
As one of the inaugural recipients of the Star to Be Project at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, produced in conjunction with the York Theatre Company, Charlie High paid tribute to Judy Garland and her legendary 1961 Carnegie Hall concert on October 4
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2026
Shana Farr and Craig Rubano will perform Jerome Kern standards in a theatrical concert at Chelsea Table + Stage, featuring music director Jon Weber and arrangements by Steve Ross.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 29, 2026
Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater will present nightly performances throughout October, featuring The Hot Sardines, Ron Carter, and birthday celebrations for Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 24, 2026
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre and The Ira & Leonore Gershwin Philanthropic Fund launched a new granting program providing $2,000 to $5,000 to member organizations developing musicals from existing songs, stories and cultural touchstones.
by Andrew Poretz - Sep 24, 2026
Mary Porter brings Southern charm to 54 Below in Southern Nights, a rollicking, guest-filled celebration featuring NaTasha Yvette Williams, Seth Sikes, Richard Skipper, Edmund Bagnell, and a terrific band.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 23, 2026
Opera Philadelphia's revival of the Gershwins' 1933 political satire, directed by Zack Winokur, will move to New York City Center following its Philadelphia premiere.
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 23, 2026
Happiness is Encores! news! NEW YORK CITY CENTER just announced that Encores! Let ’Em Eat Cake replaces the previously announced Hallelujah, Baby! from March 17 through 28, 2027. The production will be directed by Zack Winokur (Artistic Director, AMOC), in association with Opera Philadelphia, with Guest Music Director Rob Berman leading The Encores! Orchestra. Hallelujah, Baby! will be presented during a future Encores! season to allow more time for creative development.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 22, 2026
Michael Feinstein and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony will present a celebration of George Gershwin's musical legacy and his contemporaries who shaped the Golden Age of Hollywood film scoring.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 8, 2026
Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota will present five Mainstage productions and its inaugural Second Stage season, with single tickets going on sale for the 2026-27 lineup.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 3, 2026
Lorna Dallas, a 2020 Bistro Award recipient, will present an encore performance of her cabaret show at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 28, 2026
Phillip Officer will pay tribute to Mabel Mercer at Birdland, joined by Alice Ripley, Natalie Douglas and Marieann Meringolo for an evening of Broadway standards and storytelling.
by Rachel Stone - Aug 25, 2026
Film Forum will present its Fall 2026 Film Forum Jr. series, featuring classic and animated films including ON THE TOWN, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, and Pixar's COCO for kids and families.
by Joshua Wright - Aug 12, 2026
Goodspeed Musicals shared new footage of Hailey Thomas and David Andrew Morton performing 'Naughty Baby' from its production of Crazy For You in East Haddam.
by Michael Major - Aug 3, 2026
Goodspeed Musicals shared new footage of its Crazy For You cast tapping through the Gershwin classic 'I Got Rhythm,' the latest clip from the theatre's current production. Watch the video!
by Gregory Fletcher - Aug 1, 2026
Rosie Webber's THE SHOW THAT GOT AWAY on July 30 and 31 featured the songs of Judy Garland and beyond in a sold-out show that marked Webber's New York City debut. Admitting she was terrified but grateful, she called the evening 'a dream come true.'
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Aug 2, 2026
Over the years, Broadway has seen a number of family acts sharing the stage. It’s extra special when family members team up to write a Broadway show together. The Great White Way has seen many instances of this historically, in a variety of different situations. While last week’s column focused on spouses penning shows together, this week is all about blood relatives partnering to write work.
by Joshua Wright - Jul 29, 2026
Goodspeed Musicals shared a new clip of 'Shall We Dance?' from its production of Crazy For You, featuring Will Burton and Brittany Zeinstra in a Gershwin-fueled dance number.
by Joshua Wright - Jul 23, 2026
Get a first look at Goodspeed Musicals' current production of CRAZY FOR YOU as Brittany Zeinstra as Polly performs an an alluring rendition of 'Embraceable You.'
by Stephi Wild - Jul 16, 2026
Single tickets are now on sale for The Soraya's 2026-27 season, a 44-performance lineup featuring eight debuts, including Sutton Foster, Snarky Puppy, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Audra McDonald, and the National Symphony Orchestra.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 14, 2026
Aspire Community Theatre announced plans to stage CRAZY FOR YOU, the classic Gershwin musical, under the direction of Artistic Director Trigger Weddle in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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).
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.
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.
