Nov. 10-Dec. 8, 2013 the SHN Golden Gate Theatre hosts Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess the American love story featuring an African American cast.
Joining previously announced ALICIA HALL MORAN as Bess and NATHANIEL STAMPLEY as Porgy will be ALVIN CRAWFORD as Crown, KINGSLEY LEGGS as Sporting Life, SUMAYYA ALI as Clara, DENISHA BALLEW as Serena, DANIELLE LEE GREAVES as Mariah, and DAVID HUGHEY as Jake.
The cast also includes DAN BARNHILL, VANJAH BOIKAI, ADRIANNA M. CLEVELAND, ROOSEVELT ANDRÉ CREDIT, CICILY DAINELS, DWELVAN DAVID, NKRUMAH GATLING, TAMAR GREENE, NICOLE ADELL JOHNSON, JAMES EARL JONES II, QUENTIN OLIVER LEE, CHERYSE McLEOD LEWIS, SARITA RACHELLE, LILLY, KENT OVERSHOWN, CHAUNCEY PACKER, LINDSAY ROBERTS, FRED ROSE, and SOARA-JOYE ROSS. “Every so often a project comes along that is so astonishing that one has to drop everything and just say I’m going to do it. That’s what I felt when I was asked to do The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess,” said Tony Award® – winning director DIANE PAULUS. “The epic sweep of the story, the immense history of the musical itself and the unforgettable Gershwin score, highlighted by ‘Summertime,’ ‘I Got Plenty of Nothing’ and ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’ make this unquestionably one of the greatest American masterpieces.”
THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS by GEORGE GERSHWIN, DUBOSE and DOROTHY HEYWARD, and IRA GERSHWIN, features one of Broadway’s most accomplished creative teams, led by Tony Award® – winning director DIANE PAULUS (Pippin, Hair), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright SUZAN-LORI PARKS (Topdog/Underdog), and two-time Obie Award-winning composer DIEDRE L. MURRAY (Running Man). The creative team also includes choreographer RONALD K. BROWN, set designer RICCARDO HERNANDEZ, costume designer ESOSA, lighting designer CHRISTOPHER AKERLIND, sound designer ACME SOUND PARTNERS, music supervisor CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOUS, and music director/conductor DALE RIELING.
Based on DuBose Heyward’s novel “Porgy” and the play of the same name, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward, the Broadway revival of THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS is a stunning and stirring new staging with a magnificent 23-piece orchestra, including such legendary songs as “Summertime,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” and “I Got Plenty of Nothing.” JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE 23 PIECE ORCHESTRA AND THESE THREE SONGS ARE ALREADY MENTIONED. The classic story is set in Charleston’s fabled Catfish Row, where the beautiful Bess struggles to break free from her scandalous past, and the only one who can rescue her is the courageous Porgy. Threatened by her formidable former lover Crown, and the seductive enticements of the colorful troublemaker Sporting Life, Porgy and Bess’ relationship evolves into a deep romance that triumphs as one of theater’s most exhilarating love stories.
PORGY AND BESS first premiered at the Colonial Theatre in Boston on September 30, 1935. Broadway performances followed featuring a cast of classically trained African-American singers — a daring and visionary artistic choice at the time. This new adaptation of THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS was specifically created for Broadway and features a revised book in a musical theater format and jazz-oriented musical arrangements.
*Take advantage of discount pricing using the code: FAITH Click here for tickets.
Follow Porgy and Bess @ SHN on Twitter: #PorgySHN
No Comments