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George Gershwin Headshot

George Gershwin

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY

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BIO

George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898, and began his musical training when he was 13. At 16 he quit high school to work as a "song plugger" for a music publisher, and soon he was writing songs himself. "Swanee," as introduced by Al Jolson, brought George his first real fame and led to his writing a succession of 22 musical comedies, most with his older brother, Ira. The Gershwins' shows include Lady Be Good, Oh, Kay!, Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Of Thee I Sing. From his early career George had ambitions to compose serious music, and his classical masterpieces include "Rhapsody In Blue," "Concerto In F," "An American In Paris" and "Second Rhapsody." In the late '20s George became fascinated by the DuBose Heyward novel Porgy, recognizing it as a perfect vehicle for opera using jazz and blues idioms. The folk opera Porgy and Bess had its Broadway premiere in October of 1935. In 1937 George was at the height of his career. While working on the score of The Goldwyn Follies in Hollywood, he collapsed, and on July 11, died of a brain tumor. He was not quite 39 years old.

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]
Music
An American in Paris
 
[Paris, 2014]
Compsoer
The Show is On
 
[Broadway, 1937]
Composer
The Show is On
 
[Broadway, 1936]
Composer
Girl Crazy
 
[Broadway, 1930]
Conductor
Lucky
 
[Broadway, 1927]
Composer
The Dancing Girl
 
[Broadway, 1923]
Composer
George White's Scandals [1922]
 
[Broadway, 1922]
Music
For Goodness Sake
 
[Broadway, 1922]
Composer
Blue Eyes
 
[Broadway, 1921]
Composer
Good Morning, Judge
 
[Broadway, 1919]
Composer
Ladies First
 
[Broadway, 1918]
Composer

Writing

Do It Again!
Music
Composer
Funny Face
Composer
George Gershwin Alone
Composer/Lyricist
The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm
Composer
Composer/Lyricist
Girl Crazy
Composer
Jolson & Co.
Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Mr. Words
Composer
Oh, Kay!
Composer
Our Nell
Composer
Composer
Pardon My English
Composer
Composer
Primrose
Composer
Rosalie
Composer
Composer
Show Girl
Composer
Song of the Flame
Composer
Composer
Stairway to Paradise
Sketches/Composer/Lyricist
Strike Up the Band
Composer
Composer
Sweet Little Devil
Composer
Composer
Tell Me More!
Composer
Composer
Tip-Toes
Composer
Composer
Treasure Girl
Composer
Composer
Who Cares?
Composer

Movies

Shall We Dance
[ 1937 ] music by
The Goldwyn Follies
[ 1938 ] music by
Rhapsody in Blue
[ 1945 ] music
An American in Paris
[ 1951 ] music by
Funny Face
[ 1957 ] songwriter
Kiss Me, Stupid
[ 1964 ] songs by
The Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess'
[ 2013 ] music
An American in Paris - The Musical
[ 2018 ] music and lyrics by

Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards - 2007 - Best New Musical

George GershwinThe Gershwins' Porgy And Bess


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

George Gershwin, Crazy For You

Videos

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News


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Review: SPENCER DAY: SONGS FOR A WINTER'S NIGHT at Feinstein's At The Nikko
by Steve Murray - Dec 6, 2025

What did our critic think of SPENCER DAY: SONMGS FOR A WINTER'S NIGHT at Feinstein's At The Nikko?
Cape Town Opera Reveals 2026 Season Lineup Photo
Cape Town Opera Reveals 2026 Season Lineup
by Stephi Wild - Dec 5, 2025

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Hershey Felder to Return to TheatreWorks in World Premiere of THE PIANO AND ME
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 2, 2025

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Misty Copeland"Curated Ballet Festival and More Set for The Joyce 2026 Spring/Summer Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 2, 2025

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Review: Mary Porter Honors Her Home State in HATS OFF TO CAROLINA at 54 Below
by Andrew Poretz - Nov 17, 2025

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by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Nov 16, 2025

During his prolific and storied career, Sondheim collaborated with many other artists, from book writers to directors, from actors to musicians. Seeing Sondheim’s regular collaborators, close friends, one-time associates, mentors, and rare connections make appearances in his collection was both moving and illuminating.
Review: JULIET EWING: SIMPLY 'S WONDERFUL - THE MAGIC OF GERSHWIN at Chelsea Table + Photo
Review: JULIET EWING: SIMPLY 'S WONDERFUL - THE MAGIC OF GERSHWIN at Chelsea Table + Stage
by Andrew Poretz - Nov 11, 2025

Juliet Ewing's sold-out CD release show at Chelsea Table + Stage delivered an exciting 75 minutes of some of Gershwin's greatest music, with some interesting choices.
Cabaret Roundup: November 10-16- Marilu Henner, Margaret Cho & More Photo
Cabaret Roundup: November 10-16- Marilu Henner, Margaret Cho & More
by Rebecca Kaplan - Nov 10, 2025

Here are a few top picks in NYC to consider this week including a new work by the late Broadway songwriter William Finn, Taxi star Marilu Henner in a new solo show, New York Comedy Festival performances and more.
STRICTLY COME DANCING's Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara Will Embark on New Tour Photo
STRICTLY COME DANCING's Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara Will Embark on New Tour For 2026
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Listen: Judy Whitmore Releases First-Ever Holiday Album 'Christmas' Photo
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by Josh Sharpe - Oct 29, 2025

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by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 28, 2025

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Review: PORGY AND BESS at Houston Grand Opera Photo
Review: PORGY AND BESS at Houston Grand Opera
by Armando Urdiales - Oct 25, 2025

As Houston performing arts ventures grow for the 2025-26 season, Houston Grand Opera surpasses them all with a thrilling 50th anniversary production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Starring powerhouse performers Angel Blue and Michael Sumuel in the title roles, this theatrical staging further cements HGO's monolithic presence not only in Houston but in the world of opera at large.
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by A.A. Cristi - Oct 22, 2025

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Carnegie Hall Will Present UNITED IN SOUND: AMERICA AT 250 Festival In 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 22, 2025

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HERSHEY FELDER: THE PIANO AND ME is Coming to Theatreworks Silicon Valley Photo
HERSHEY FELDER: THE PIANO AND ME is Coming to Theatreworks Silicon Valley
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 20, 2025

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will ring in 2026 with the return of actor/pianist/writer Hershey Felder in the World Premiere of Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me. Learn more!
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THE SNOW GOOSE World Premiere and More Set for Goodspeed Musicals 2026 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 8, 2025

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Palm Beach Symphony's Season Opens With Pianist Shelly Berg Next Month
by Stephi Wild - Oct 7, 2025

 In a powerful launch to the season, American innovation meets Italian grandeur as Palm Beach Symphony's 2025-2026 Masterworks Series opens with pianist Shelly Berg and Music Director Gerard Schwarz
Juliet Ewing Brings Album Release Party To Chelsea Table + Stage Photo
Juliet Ewing Brings Album Release Party To Chelsea Table + Stage
by Stephi Wild - Oct 2, 2025

Juliet Ewing will celebrate the music of George Gershwin and her recently released album, Simply 'S Wonderful-The Magic of Gershwin. Learn more about the event here!
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Lost Broadway Theaters Still Standing... Continued!
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Sep 28, 2025

Multiple lost Broadway theaters intersect with the Hammerstein family. This follows since Oscar Hammerstein I was a theater owner and builder. In addition to Hammerstein’s which was named after him and is now the Ed Sullivan, and the New Victory which he originally built, there is also the Hammerstein Ballroom. Read more here!
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Giordano Dance Chicago to Present Fall 2025 Engagement at North Shore Center
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 27, 2025

Giordano Dance Chicago will bring its 63rd Ignite the Soul season to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie on October 18–19, 2025. The program will include Al Blackstone’s Gershwin in B, Brock Clawson’s Give & Take, Simon Schuh’s Interlinked, and more.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has George Gershwin written?

George Gershwin has written 48 shows including Half-Past Eight (Composer), La, La, Lucille (Composer), La-La-Lucille! (Composer), Morris Gest's "Midnight Whirl" (Composer), George White's Scandals [1920] (Composer), Snapshots of 1921 (Composer), The Broadway Whirl (Composer), George White's Scandals [1921] (Composer), The French Doll (Composer), George White's Scandals [1922] (Composer), Our Nell (Composer), George White's Scandals [1923] (Composer), Sweet Little Devil (Composer), George White's Scandals [1924] (Composer), Primrose (Composer), Lady, Be Good (Composer), Tell Me More! (Composer), Tip-Toes (Composer), Song of the Flame (Composer), Oh, Kay! (Composer), Strike Up the Band (Composer), Funny Face (Composer), Rosalie (Composer), Treasure Girl (Composer), Show Girl (Composer), Girl Crazy (Composer), Of Thee I Sing (Composer), Pardon My English (Composer), Let 'Em Eat Cake (Composer), Porgy and Bess (Composer), All Points West (Composer), Who Cares? (Composer), Do It Again! (Composer), Mr. Words (Composer), My One and Only (Composer), Gertrude Stein and a Companion (Additional Music), Reaching for the Moon (Composer), Crazy for You (Composer), The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm (Composer/Lyricist), Jolson & Co. (Composer/Lyricist), American Rhapsody: A New Musical Revue (Composer), George Gershwin Alone (Composer/Lyricist), Elaine Stritch At Liberty (Composer), Stairway to Paradise (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist), The Gershwins' An American In Paris (Composer), Come Fly Away (Composer), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Composer), A Night With Janis Joplin (Composer).

What awards has George Gershwin been nominated for?

George Gershwin has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable nominations include Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess" and the American Express Award for Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "Crazy For You". These nominations highlight the recognition and acclaim that Gershwin's musical works have received in the industry.

What awards has George Gershwin won?

George Gershwin has won the American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for "Crazy For You".

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