George Gershwin Videos

The National Tour of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, will launch at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre this November. The tour, accompanied by a 23-piece orchestra, will begin performances Sunday, Nov. 10 with an official opening on Wednesday, Nov. 13. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge just chatted with the cast during rehearsal, and you can catch what they had to say and check out a performance preview below!

Happy Birthday, George Gershwin! Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, as well as the opera Porgy and Bess. Gershwin's music has been heard on the Broadway stage in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Crazy for You, and many more.

Today in 1943, Porgy and Bess opened at the 44th Street Theatre, where it ran for 24 performances. First performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward, it was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward. All three works deal with African-American life in the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 1920s. Originally conceived by George Gershwin as an 'American folk opera', Porgy and Bess premiered in New York in the fall of 1935 and featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers-a daring artistic choice at the time.

Today in 1981, the second Broadway revival of My Fair Lady opened at the Uris Theatre (now the George Gershwin Theatre), where it ran for 120 performances. My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a well born lady. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a hit, setting what was then the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and numerous revivals.

SMASH and Broadway star Megan Hilty performed a Patriotic Medley and a moving version of George Gershwin's 'Someone to Watch Over Me,' on last night's PBS special A CAPITOL FOURTH. Check out the performances below!

Today in 1985, Singin' in the Rain opened at the George Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 367 performances. Singin' in the Rain is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Arthur Freed, and music by Nacio Herb Brown. Adapted from the 1952 movie of the same name, the plot closely adheres to the original. Set in Hollywood in the waning days of the silent screen era, it focuses on romantic lead Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Lockwood's leading lady Lina Lamont, whose less-than-dulcet vocal tones make her an unlikely candidate for stardom in talking pictures. Directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, the cast included Don Correia as Don, Mary D'Arcy as Kathy, Peter Slutsker as Cosmo, and Faye Grant as Lina.

Today in 1993, the second Broadway revival of Camelot opened at the George Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 56 performances. Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music). It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King. The original 1960 production, directed by Moss Hart and orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang, ran on Broadway for 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals, foreign productions and a 1967 film version. The 1993 cast starred Robert Goulet, Steve Blanchard, and Patricia Kies.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced additional performances of its latest show, George Gershwin Alone. Originally scheduled to close June 23, the Bay Area debut of Hershey Felder's international hit is now extended for an additional two weeks, through July 7. See George Gershwin Alone and prepare to be enthralled by the irresistible music of America's favorite composer. Click below for a behind-the-scenes look at the show!

Tony nominated actress Jessie Mueller, currently starring in the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Nice Work If You Can Get It, appeared on NBC's 'Today' this morning, May 9th in the 10:00 a.m. hour as part of Kathie Lee and Hoda's 'Everyone Has a Story' segment. Mueller sang 'For You', co-written by Lee for 7-year-old AJ Kelm, who is battling a rare form of epilepsy, and his mother. Click below to watch! Mueller's performance begins around the 4-minute mark.

Eighty-Eight Entertainment presents the Chicago Premiere of Hershey Felder's riveting new production, AN AMERICAN STORY for ACTOR AND ORCHESTRA, which tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's last day, in a limited engagement at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted. The production opened on March 10, 2013. The Chicago Premiere follows successful tryout productions in Los Angeles and San Diego. Below, check out opening night interviews with Felder and more!

Today in 1992, Crazy for You opened at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for 1622 performances. Crazy for You is a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as 'The New Gershwin Musical Comedy', it is largely based on the songwriting team's 1930 musical, Girl Crazy, but interpolates songs from several other productions as well. Crazy for You won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production was directed by Mike Ockrent and choreographed by Susan Stroman.The cast included Jodi Benson as Polly, Harry Groener as Bobby Child, Bruce Adler as Bela Zangler, John Hillner as Lank Hawkins, Michele Pawk as Irene Roth, Jane Connell as Mother, and Beth Leavel as Tess.

If you missed the kickoff of Live From Lincoln Center's winter and spring broadcast season's 'Ring Them Bells! A Kander & Ebb Celebration,' hosted by Audra McDonald, we've got you covered! The concert aired on PBS on February 15, 2013 and is now online!

Live From Lincoln Center's winter and spring broadcast season kicked off with a special concert from Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series celebrating the legendary songwriting duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The broadcast, 'Ring Them Bells! A Kander & Ebb Celebration,' was hosted by Audra McDonald and aired on PBS stations last night, February 15, 2013. Joel Grey sang, 'If You Could See Her', a song he originated in the Broadway and film versions of CABARET. Click below to watch his performance!

Chita Rivera performed one of the signature songs from her originating role as the title character of the Kander & Ebb's musical KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN on 'Live from Lincoln Center: Ring Them Bells!', which aired last night, February 15. Watch her sing below!

Today in 1942, the first revival of Porgy and Bess opened at the Majestic Theatre, where it ran for 286 performances. First performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward, it was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward. All three works deal with African-American life in the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 1920s. Originally conceived by George Gershwin as an 'American folk opera', Porgy and Bess premiered in New York in the fall of 1935 and featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers-a daring artistic choice at the time.

Happy Birthday, Ira Gershwin! A lyricist, Gershwin collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. With George he wrote more than a dozen Broadway shows, featuring songs such as 'I Got Rhythm', 'Embraceable You', 'The Man I Love' and 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. He was also responsible, along with DuBose Heyward, for the libretto to George's opera Porgy and Bess. The success the brothers had with their collaborative works has often overshadowed the creative role that Ira played. However, his mastery of songwriting continued after the early death of George. He wrote additional hit songs with composers Jerome Kern ('Long Ago (and Far Away)'), Kurt Weill and Harold Arlen.

America's favorite holiday tradition, the 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, returns to dazzle and enchant millions nationwide today, Thursday, November 22. The festivities will showcase performances from different Broadway companies. Check out Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara and the cast of NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT as they perform 'Lady be Good' and 'S Wonderful'!

The Tony-winning hit musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT was recently featured on NBC's "Today" Weekend Edition. News anchor Jenna Wolfe went behind-the-scenes to make her Broadway debut in the show, picking up some pointers along the way from stars Matthew Broderick & Kelli O'Hara. Watch the segment below!

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, featuring music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, stars two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara. The production is directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall and is now playing at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). Check out what it's like backstage at the Imperial, with the special behind the scenes video below!

Happy Birthday, George Gershwin! Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, as well as the opera Porgy and Bess. Gershwin's music has been heard on the Broadway stage in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Crazy for You, and many more.