George Gershwin News

On Twitter Watch, Audra McDonald wrote 'Here's what I think...to quote the greatest musical theater composer of our time... 'Art isn't easy' 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. 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. '

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.

English National Ballet presents Christmas at the Coliseum 2011 with its sumptuous production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Wayne Eagling, and Derek Deane's dazzling homage to George Gershwin, Strictly Gershwin.

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.

Producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel in association with the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) are pleased to announce tickets for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS will be on sale exclusively to American Express Cardmembers from Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 10:00 am through Monday, September 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm, at Ticketmaster.com (800-745-3000). Also, Preferred Seating is available to American Express Gold Card, Platinum Card® and Centurion® members. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, September 12th at 10:00 am.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, begins previews on August 17 and opens for the reviewing press on August 31 at 7pm. Performances are at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. In the video below, the Boston Globe goes inside rehearsal and chats with the cast about the new production. Click below to check it out!

Jazz at the Maverick continues at Woodstock's rustic concert hall in the woods with an evening of solo jazz featuring pianist Bill Charlap on Saturday, August 13, at 8:00 p.m.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, begins previews on August 17 and opens for the reviewing press on August 31 at 7pm. Performances are at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. Check out our High Res photo gallery of Rehearsal photos (without costuming)!

Clear Space announces its upcoming productions playing now through Labor Day, including Chicao, Words and Music by GERSHWIN, & 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY.

The Hartt School announces highlights of its 2011-2012 Instrumental Studies Division performance schedule.

Right from the first few notes of the overture, whether you're familiar with the show or not, a musical theater lover's ears will register the familiar lilt of a Gershwin melody reminiscent of "Rhapsody in Blue" and cause you to settle in your seat a little more with a contended sigh. At least that's what happened to this musical theater lover as he ventured just a little outside his normal realm and into the world of opera to catch Seattle Opera's breathtaking production of "Porgy and Bess".

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG (NYFOS) creates intimate concerts that breathe new life into an art form that is rich and emotionally resonant, yet is too often treated as genteel, intellectual, and predictable.

Berkshire Theatre Festival is proud to announce Musical Mondays, an exciting expansion of the popular Friday Series.

Des morceaux choisis dans le répertoire de la grande Ella Fitzgerald, l'une des voix légendaires de l'histoire du jazz.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY in association with Donald Schaffer Management & Entertainment & Ward Morehouse III present ELIZABETH TRYON 'WHERE THE MUSIC TAKES ME' on AUGUST 2 & 16 AT 8:30 PM at Feinstein's, 540 Park Ave. (@ 61st St.)

Ravinia Festival's 2011 Gala Benefit Evening will celebrate legendary American composer George Gershwin with a program including his most beloved music at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. This performance commemorates the 75th anniversary of Gershwin's Ravinia performance by recreating the concert, which in 1936 had audiences climbing into the trees to catch a glimpse of the musical genius. Ravinia Festival Music Director James Conlon will lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the 75-minute concert, which features renowned Gershwin interpreters vocalists Kelli O'Hara, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Sylvia McNair and pianist Kevin Cole.

Highly regarded as a champion and interpreter of American music, conductor David Alan Miller will lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Ravinia Festival's Gala Benefit Evening at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the CSO's annual summer residency at Ravinia as well as legendary American composer George Gershwin with a program including his most beloved music.

Those summer nights are going to last just a little longer as Olney Theatre Center extends its production of Grease before it even opens. Bobby Smith returns to direct what can be called the original high school musical.

Today we are talking to an international recording superstar who ushered in the new era of rock and roll with her songs and performance style in France in the early 1960s and created an unparalleled entertainment legacy reaching its apotheosis in 2010 with the release of her finest album to date, SOLEIL BLEU - the one and only celebrated chanteuse herself, Sylvie Vartan. Predominantly performing material from this stupendous recent album as well as from her vaunted back catalogue, Vartan will take the stage of Feinstein's At The Regency for two nights next week - Tuesday, July 26 and Wednesday, July 27, both at 8:30 PM. Be sure to take a listen to SOLEIL BLEU if you have not heard it and if you cannot manage to score a ticket to either of Sylvie's sold-out shows at Feinstein‘s, well... c'est la vie! In this career-spanning conversation we touch on working extensively with everyone from The Beatles to Carla Bruni to Charles Aznavour to what's next for her and much, much more! Playing to a gigantic arena for a three-week engagement sharing the stage with The Beatles themselves was Sylvie Vartan's entrée into the entertainment industry - and what an introduction! Bringing a sexy, swingin' style and hip dance moves to go along with her funky, rock n roll swagger and smoky vocals, Vartan virtually created the modern day pop/rock diva in the later mold of Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar and many of the great lady rock icons we have known since. Through countless stage shows, concert spectaculars, albums, films, television appearances and magazine cover stories, Vartan has firmly established herself as one of the foremost women in the French entertainment realm. Case in point: the First Lady of France herself, Carla Bruni, even contributed songs to Sylvie's newest album, the career-defining SOLEIL BLEU. Tacking on all of these topics as well as many more - most importantly: what we can expect to hear from her at Feinstein's next week and the charity closest to her heart - Vartan and I shed some light on her impossibly accomplished and fascinating career - such as selling 40 million records, committing 1200+ songs to record and giving more than 2500 onstage performances in her five-decade-spanning career - and, we also take a look ahead to her very bright future.

MiddleMaddle Ensemble is proud to present Chasing Heaven as part of the 15th Annual New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC).