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Porgy and Bess

Updated: 12/11/2025, 10:05:34 AM Wikipedia source

Porgy and Bess ( PORG-ee) is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play Porgy, itself an adaptation of DuBose Heyward's 1925 novel Porgy. Porgy and Bess was first performed in Boston on September 30, 1935, before it moved to Broadway in New York City. It featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time. A 1976 Houston Grand Opera production gained it a renewed popularity, and it is now one of the best known and most frequently performed operas. The libretto of Porgy and Bess tells the story of Porgy, a disabled black street beggar living in the slums of Charleston. It deals with his attempts to rescue Bess from the clutches of Crown, her violent and possessive lover, and Sportin' Life, her drug dealer. The opera plot generally follows the stage play. In the years following Gershwin's death, Porgy and Bess was adapted for smaller-scale performances. It was adapted as a film in 1959. Some of the songs in the opera, such as "Summertime", became popular and are frequently recorded. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the trend has been toward productions with greater fidelity to Gershwin's original intentions, though smaller-scale productions also continue to be mounted. A complete recorded version of the score was released in 1976; since then, it has been recorded several times.

Infobox

Librettist
DuBose Heyward
Language
English
Based on
Heyward's novel Porgy
Premiere
September 30, 1935 (1935-09-30)Colonial Theatre (Boston)

Tables

mw- Roles, voice types, premiere cast · Roles
Porgy, a disabled beggar
Porgy, a disabled beggar
Role
Porgy, a disabled beggar
Voice type
bass-baritone
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Todd Duncan
Bess, Crown's girl
Bess, Crown's girl
Role
Bess, Crown's girl
Voice type
soprano
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Anne Brown
Crown, a tough stevedore
Crown, a tough stevedore
Role
Crown, a tough stevedore
Voice type
baritone
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Warren Coleman
Sportin' Life, a dope peddler
Sportin' Life, a dope peddler
Role
Sportin' Life, a dope peddler
Voice type
tenor
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
John W. Bubbles
Robbins, an inhabitant of Catfish Row
Robbins, an inhabitant of Catfish Row
Role
Robbins, an inhabitant of Catfish Row
Voice type
tenor
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Henry Davis
Serena, Robbins' wife
Serena, Robbins' wife
Role
Serena, Robbins' wife
Voice type
soprano
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Ruby Elzy
Jake, a fisherman
Jake, a fisherman
Role
Jake, a fisherman
Voice type
baritone
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Edward Matthews
Clara, Jake's wife
Clara, Jake's wife
Role
Clara, Jake's wife
Voice type
soprano
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Abbie Mitchell
Maria, keeper of the cook-shop
Maria, keeper of the cook-shop
Role
Maria, keeper of the cook-shop
Voice type
contralto
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Georgette Harvey
Mingo
Mingo
Role
Mingo
Voice type
tenor
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Ford L. Buck
Peter, the honeyman
Peter, the honeyman
Role
Peter, the honeyman
Voice type
tenor
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Gus Simons
Lily, Peter's wife
Lily, Peter's wife
Role
Lily, Peter's wife
Voice type
soprano
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Helen Dowdy
Frazier, a black "lawyer"
Frazier, a black "lawyer"
Role
Frazier, a black "lawyer"
Voice type
baritone
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
J. Rosamond Johnson
Annie
Annie
Role
Annie
Voice type
mezzo-soprano
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Olive Ball
Strawberry woman
Strawberry woman
Role
Strawberry woman
Voice type
mezzo-soprano
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Helen Dowdy
Jim, a stevedore who hauls cotton
Jim, a stevedore who hauls cotton
Role
Jim, a stevedore who hauls cotton
Voice type
baritone
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Jack Carr
Undertaker
Undertaker
Role
Undertaker
Voice type
baritone
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
John Garth
Nelson
Nelson
Role
Nelson
Voice type
tenor
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Ray Yeates
Crab man
Crab man
Role
Crab man
Voice type
tenor
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Ray Yeates
Scipio, a small boy
Scipio, a small boy
Role
Scipio, a small boy
Voice type
boy soprano
Mr. Archdale, a white lawyer
Mr. Archdale, a white lawyer
Role
Mr. Archdale, a white lawyer
Voice type
spoken
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
George Lessey
Detective
Detective
Role
Detective
Voice type
spoken
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Alexander Campbell
Policeman
Policeman
Role
Policeman
Voice type
spoken
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Burton McEvilly
Coroner
Coroner
Role
Coroner
Voice type
spoken
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
George Carleton
The Eva Jessye Choir, led by Eva Jessye
The Eva Jessye Choir, led by Eva Jessye
Role
The Eva Jessye Choir, led by Eva Jessye
Role
Voice type
Premiere cast, September 30, 1935Conductor: Alexander Smallens
Porgy, a disabled beggar
bass-baritone
Todd Duncan
Bess, Crown's girl
soprano
Anne Brown
Crown, a tough stevedore
baritone
Warren Coleman
Sportin' Life, a dope peddler
tenor
John W. Bubbles
Robbins, an inhabitant of Catfish Row
tenor
Henry Davis
Serena, Robbins' wife
soprano
Ruby Elzy
Jake, a fisherman
baritone
Edward Matthews
Clara, Jake's wife
soprano
Abbie Mitchell
Maria, keeper of the cook-shop
contralto
Georgette Harvey
Mingo
tenor
Ford L. Buck
Peter, the honeyman
tenor
Gus Simons
Lily, Peter's wife
soprano
Helen Dowdy
Frazier, a black "lawyer"
baritone
J. Rosamond Johnson
Annie
mezzo-soprano
Olive Ball
Strawberry woman
mezzo-soprano
Helen Dowdy
Jim, a stevedore who hauls cotton
baritone
Jack Carr
Undertaker
baritone
John Garth
Nelson
tenor
Ray Yeates
Crab man
tenor
Ray Yeates
Scipio, a small boy
boy soprano
Mr. Archdale, a white lawyer
spoken
George Lessey
Detective
spoken
Alexander Campbell
Policeman
spoken
Burton McEvilly
Coroner
spoken
George Carleton
The Eva Jessye Choir, led by Eva Jessye

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