San Francisco War Memorial 1995 Porgy and Bess Page 1 of 3 Opera Assn. Opera House Summer SAN FRANCISCO OPERA presents The Houston Grand Opera Production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (in English) Opera in two acts by George Gershwin Libretto by DuBose Heyward Lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin (See assorted notes) Conductor and Music Director CAST John DeMain Porgy, a crippled beggar Terry Cook (5/25,27m,28m,31;6/2,3) Assistant conductor Alvy Powell (5/24,26,27,30;6/1,3m) Douglas Fisher Bess Roberta Laws (5/25,27m,28m,31;6/2,3) Director and Choreographer Marquita Lister (5/24,26,27,30;6/1,3m) Hope Clarke Crown, a stevedore Stacey Robinson (5/24,26,27,30;6/1,3m) Assistant choreographer Jeffrey LaVar (5/25,27m,28m,31;6/2,3) Tanya Gibson Serena, Robbins's wife Luvenia Garner (5/25,27m,28m,31;6/2,3) Assistant Director Angela Simpson (5/24,26,27,30;6/1,3m) Ken Foy Clara, Jake's wife Kimberly Jones Costume Designer Maria, keeper of the cookshop Ann Duquesnay Judy Dearing Jake, a fisherman Elex Lee Vann Lighting Designer Sportin' Life, a dope peddler Larry Marshall Ken Billington Mingo Barron Coleman Sound Designer Robbins Richard Taylor Steven Canyon Kennedy Peter, the honey man Stanley Jackson Wig and Makeup Realizer Frazier, a "lawyer" Keith Crawford Dotti Staker Annie Sabrina Carten Chorus Preparation Lily, Peter's wife Lou Ann Pickett Richard Bado Strawberry Woman Hope Briggs Company Manager Jim, a cotton picker Matthew J. Minor Veronica Claypool Undertaker Henry Jones Technical/Lighting Supervisor Nelson John Lesane Marie Barrett Crab Man David Lee Brewer Production Stage Manager Theresa Ganley Detective Charles Sanders Coroner Russell Johnson Casting Consultant Wayne Sanders African Drummer Richard Taylor *Role debut †U.S. opera debut PLACE AND TIME: Catfish Row; Charleston, South Carolina; 1935 Wednesday, May 24 1995, at 7:30 PM Thursday, May 25 1995, at 8:00 PM Friday, May 26 1995, at 8:00 PM Saturday, May 27 1995, at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 27 1995, at 8:00 PM Sunday, May 28 1995, at 2:00 PM Tuesday, May 30 1995, at 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 31 1995, at 8:00 PM Thursday, June 1 1995, at 8:00 PM Friday, June 2 1995, at 8:00 PM Saturday, June 3 1995, at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 3 1995, at 8:00 PM San Francisco War Memorial 1995 Porgy and Bess Page 2 of 3 Opera Assn. Opera House Summer Sponsors: The performance of May 24th is sponsored by USL Captal. The performance of May 25th is sponsored by Heath Cal. The evening performance of May 27th is sponsored by American Airlines. The performance of May 31st is sponsored by Deloitte & Touche. Notes: This production of "Porgy and Bess" is a jointly funded co-production of Cleveland Opera, Dallas Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Portland Opera, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera and Seattle Opera, in association with The Orange County Performing Arts Center. This production has been supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. San Francisco Opera Orchestra The worldwide copyrights in the music of George and Ira Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin family. Gershwin, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin are trademarks and service marks of Gershwin Enterprises. Porgy and Bess™ is a trademark and service mark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises. "Porgy and Bess" is presented by arrangement with TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC., New York Music Parts by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc. Continental Airlines is the official airline of this production. ENSEMBLE Tyrone Aiken Moses Braxton David Lee Brewer Hope Briggs Jeanne Brown Sabrina Carten Barron Coleman Keith Crawford Nicole Crooks Mark Anthony Hall Nadari Harrell Crystal Harris Jo Ann Harris-Ingram Juan Jackson Stanley Jackson Cornelius Johnson Quanda D. Johnson Henry B. Jones John Lesane Louise Malandra Yvette Matthews Matthew Minor Michael Morgan Lou Ann Pickett Hazella Robbins Charles Sanders Annette Silver-Betts Richard Smith Kim Sylvain Richard Taylor Janet L. Tyner Sherry Dukes Williams Supernumeraries provided by San Francisco Opera HOUSTON GRAND OPERA PRODUCTIONS, INC. David Gockley, President James Ireland, Producing Director Dolores Johnson, Managing Director Jon K. Gossett, Development Director Gary Gibbs, Education and Outreach Director San Francisco War Memorial 1995 Porgy and Bess Page 3 of 3 Opera Assn. Opera House Summer Manette Adams, Finance Director Richard Bado, Head of Music Staff/Chorus Master Allison Cowan, Acting Director of Public Relations Melissa Graff, Resident Costumer Patricia Houk, Production/Music Manager Nancy Kritikos, Technical Director Rody Kuchar, Director of Marketing John La Rock, Assistant to the Production/Music Manager Ann Owens, Artistic Administrator Margaret Read, Publications Editor Rosalene Sanchez, Administrative Assistant Jennifer Smith, Production Secretary Dotti Staker, Resident Hair and Make-up Greg Weber, Assistant Technical Director STAFF FOR PORGY AND BESS Veronica Claypool, Company Manager Marie Barrett, Technical/Lighting Supervisor Theresa Ganley. Production Stage Manager Amy Hutchison, Assistant Director Russell Johnson, Stage Manager Jack Gianino, Assistant Stage Manager Patricia Casterlin, Assistant to the Manager Annette Silver-Betts, Dance Captain John Edkins, Production Carpenter Tom Edkins, Assistant Carpenter Don Edkins, Assistant Carpenter Tom Rekuc, Production Electrician George Shaw, Assistant Electrician David Johnson, Production Sound Regnald Maxwell III, Assistant Sound Kevin Connors, Production Propertyman Dennis John Seetoo, Wardrobe Supervisor Alicia Colon, Assistant Wardrobe Stephen Cowles, Assistant to Mr. Foy Deborah Adelman, Assistant to Ms. Dearing Aissatou Parks, Assistant to Ms. Dearing Noelle Stollmack, Assistant to Mr. Billington Kathryn Eader, Assistant to Mr. Billington UNDERSTUDIES Porgy: Richard Taylor Bess: Janet Tyner Sportin' Life: David Lee Brewer Serena: Sherry Dukes Williams Clara: Nicole Crooks Maria: Kim Sylvain Jake: Keith Crawford Mingo: Juan Jackson Robbins: John Lesane Peter: Stanley Jackson Frazier: Tyrone Aiken Annie: Crystal Harris Lily: Yvette Matthews Strawberry Woman: Sherry Dukes Williams Jim: Henry Jones Undertaker: Matthew J. Minor Crab Man: Cornelius Johnson Detective: Russell Johnson PRODUCTION CREDITS Scenery construction and painting by the Seattle Opera Scenic Studios Hangers and additional scenery constructed and painted by the San Diego Opera Scenic Studio Kittiwah scenery and props by Asolo Scenic Studio Additional props by Constantine Kritikos, Houston Grand Opera Costumes provided by Carelli Costumes, Inc., Eric Winterling Costumes; Melissa Graff, Houston Grand Opera; and Handler Studio Lighting equipment furnished by Production Arts Lighting Sound equipment furnished by Masque Sound and Recording Trucking provided by Clark Transfer.