Porgy and Bess History

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Porgy and Bess History The Gershwins ®’ Porgy and Bess SM HISTORY Premiere Alvin Theatre on Broadway, October 10, 1935, New York, NY Last Performed By Washington National Opera October-November 2005, in the Kennedy Center Opera House with Wayne Marshall conducting and Francesca Zambello directing, featuring the following cast: Porgy, Gordon Hawkins/Kevin Short; Bess, Indira Mahajan/Morenike Fadayomi; Crown, Terry Cook/Lester Lynch; Jasbo Brown, Eric Reed/Lester Green, Jr.; Clara, Laquita Mitchell/Alyson Cambridge; Sportin’ Life, Jermaine Smith; Serena, Angela Simpson/Dara Rahming George Gershwin’s Stage Works La La Lucille, New York, Henry Miller Theatre, May 26,1919 A Dangerous Maid , Atlantic City, New Jersey, March 21, 1921 Blue Monday (opera), orchestrated W. H. Vodery, New York, Globe Theatre, August 28, 1922; as 135th Street , reorchd F. Grofé, Carnegie Hall (concert perf), December 29, 1925 Our Nell , Nora Bayes Theatre, December 4, 1922 Sweet Little Devil , New York, Astor Theatre, January 21, 1924 Primrose , London, Winter Garden Theatre, September 11, 1924 Lady, be Good! , New York, Liberty Theatre, December 1, 1924 Tell Me More , New York, Gaiety Theatre, April 13, 1925 Tip-Toes, New York, Liberty Theatre, December 28, 1925 Song of the Flame (operetta), New York, 44th Street Theatre, December 30, 1925 Oh, Kay! , New York, Imperial Theatre, November 8, 1926 Strike up the Band (operetta), Philadelphia, Shubert Theatre, September 5, 1927; 2nd version, Times Square, January 14, 1930 Funny Face , New York, Alvin Theatre, November 22, 1927 Rosalie , New York, New Amsterdam Theatre, January 10, 1928 Treasure Girl , New York, Alvin Theatre, November 8, 1928 Show Girl , New York, Ziegfeld Theatre, July 2, 1929 Girl Crazy , New York, Alvin Theatre, October 14, 1930 Of Thee I Sing (operetta), New York, Music Box Theatre, December 26, 1931 Washington National Opera www.dc-opera.org 202.295.2400 · 800.US.OPERA Pardon my English , New York, Majestic Theatre, January 20, 1933 Let ’em eat Cake (operetta), New York, Imperial Theatre, October 21, 1933 Porgy and Bess (opera), New York, Alvin Theatre, October 10, 1935 Washington National Opera www.dc-opera.org 202.295.2400 · 800.US.OPERA .
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  • Program Notes
    “Come on along, you can’t go wrong Kicking the clouds away!” Broadway was booming in the 1920s with the energy of youth and new ideas roaring across the nation. In New York City, immigrants such as George Gershwin were infusing American music with their own indigenous traditions. The melting pot was cooking up a completely new sound and jazz was a key ingredient. At the time, radio and the phonograph weren’t widely available; sheet music and live performances remained the popular ways to enjoy the latest hits. In fact, New York City’s Tin Pan Alley was overflowing with "song pluggers" like George Gershwin who demonstrated new tunes to promote the sale of sheet music. George and his brother Ira Gershwin composed music and lyrics for the 1927 Broadway musical Funny Face. It was the second musical they had written as a vehicle for Fred and Adele Astaire. As such, Funny Face enabled the tap-dancing duo to feature new and well-loved routines. During a number entitled “High Hat,” Fred sported evening clothes and a top hat while tapping in front of an enormous male chorus. The image of Fred during that song became iconic and versions of the routine appeared in later years. The unforgettable score featured such gems as “’S Wonderful,” “My One And Only,” “He Loves and She Loves,” and “The Babbitt and the Bromide.” The plot concerned a girl named Frankie (Adele Astaire), who persuaded her boyfriend Peter (Allen Kearns) to help retrieve her stolen diary from Jimmie Reeve (Fred Astaire). However, Peter pilfered a piece of jewelry and a wild chase ensued.
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