Porgy and Bess: Musical Info & Synopsis
Synopsis:
Porgy and Bess tells the story of Porgy, a beggar with a disability, who is living in the fictional Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina. His life becomes entwined with Bess, a woman struggling with a troubled past and current tumultuous relationship. As Porgy tries to rescue Bess from her current situation, the musical explores themes of love, hardship, and the Black experience in the early 20th century.
Musical Information
Musical Type: Opera (1935)
Cast Size: 24+
Genre: Drama
Setting: 1930s / USA (South Carolina)
Creative Team
Music: George Gershwin
Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
Libretto: DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward
Cast Albums
Original Broadway Cast (1940)➝
Houston Grand Opera Cast (1976)➝
Nashville Symphony Cast (2006)➝
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Cast (2009)➝
Metropolitan Opera Cast (2020)➝
Resources
Licensing: Concord Theatricals➝
Sheet Music: Amazon➝
Tags
1930s, Based on a Book, Dramatic, Jazz, Operatic, Popular, Summer
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