THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS is the classic American tale is set in the 1930s in Catfish Row, a neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. Bess, beautiful and troubled, turns to Porgy, the crippled beggar, in search of safety after her possessive lover Crown commits murder. As Porgy and Bess's love grows, their future is threatened by Crown and the conniving Sporting Life. This heartbreaking love story boasts some of the most famous and beloved works from the Great American Songbook, including: "Summertime," "Bess, You Is My Woman," "It Ain't Necessarily So" and "I Loves You, Porgy."
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opened tonight, Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life. Let's see what the critics had to say!
'Wow' is all that we could say after watching this thrilling show preview for The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway! Check out the footage below of Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, David Alan Grier & company lighting up the stage in this new production which opens on Thursday, January 12!
We'll have a complete BWW TV preview up later, but we couldn't resist bringing you a sneak peek at a production montage for The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway! The show opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life.
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life. Production shots have just been released and below we bring you a first look!
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929. In the video below, leading lady Audra McDonald chats about what it's like to take on the iconic character.
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS begins previews tonight and opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929.
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS comes to Broadway in a stirring new staging, featuring such legendary songs as 'Summertime,' 'It Ain't Necessarily So,' and 'I Got Plenty Of Nothing,' plus a remarkable cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice'), Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color').
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS comes to Broadway in a stirring new staging, featuring such legendary songs as 'Summertime,' 'It Ain't Necessarily So,' and 'I Got Plenty Of Nothing,' plus a remarkable cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice'), Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color').
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS comes to Broadway in a stirring new staging, featuring such legendary songs as 'Summertime,' 'It Ain't Necessarily So,' and 'I Got Plenty Of Nothing,' plus a remarkable cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice'), Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color').
Yesterday, the company met the press and treated the crowd to a performance preview. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you full photo coverage of the festivities below!
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS comes to Broadway in a stirring new staging, featuring such legendary songs as "Summertime," "It Ain't Necessarily So," and "I Got Plenty Of Nothing," plus a remarkable cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, "Private Practice"), Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, Sondheim on Sondheim) and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, "In Living Color").
Today, the company met the press and treated the crowd to a performance preview. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you a first look at the performances below!
The producers of The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS have just announced the complete cast of the show, which begin previews on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 and opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929.
In the video below, members of the cast and creative team of Broadway-bound PORGY AND BESS discuss with PBS the changes made by director Diane Paulus and book-writer Suzan-Lori Parks. They address the history of the opera and that though some people have always viewed this show as racist, Audra McDonald (Bess) adamently shares why that is exaclty what the show is not. Both Diane Paulus and Suzan-Lori Parks talk about the controversy that has surrounded this revamped musical. They reveal why this is an acceptable version of the show, even for purists and die-hard Gershwin fans. Click below to chck it out!
Back in August, a controversy arose from a New York Yimes article that explained director Diane Paulus' new vision for the ART production, and soon to be Broadway transfer, of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS. Specifically in reponse to Paulus' new 'final scene,' which gave the musical a more upbeat ending, theatre legend Stephen Sondheim wrote a memorable letter to the NYT about his thuoghts on the re-interpretation.
THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, which played a record-breaking, sold out engagement at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, will play a 26-week limited run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). The new marquee is now up at the theatre - check it out below!
It was announced last week that the Broadway-bound production of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, which played a record-breaking, sold out engagement at the American Repertory Theater, will play a 26-week limited run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Check out the just-released artwork for the Broadway run below!
It was announced last week that the Broadway-bound production of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, which played a record-breaking, sold out engagement at the American Repertory Theater, will play a 26-week limited run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Here's a glimpse at some more production footage from the A.R.T. run!
The Broadway-bound production of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, which played a record-breaking, sold out engagement at the American Repertory Theater, will play a 26-week limited run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway).
J.D.'s varied career has encompassed Broadway, opera, concert work and 17 Encores! shows.
In honor of the 76th anniversary of the world premiere, Mayor Thomas M. Menino proclaimed today, Friday, September 30, 2011, as 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess' Day in the City of Boston.
On August 31, American Repertory Theatre opened The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS. Written by Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, the A.R.T. production features an adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray. It is directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown. The show began previews on August 17 and is planning a Broadway transfer this winter. The production is scheduled to begin previews at the Richard Rogers Theatre on December 17, 2011 in anticipation of a January 12, 2012 Broadway opening. The marquee is going up at the Richard Rogers, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos below!
American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opened its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin on August 31. 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, began previews on August 17. The production will begin previews at the Richard Rogers Theatre on December 17, 2011 in anticipation of a January 12, 2012 Broadway opening.
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