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PORGY & BESS
Description | Production Details | Production Photos | Tour Dates | Press Information GEORGE GERSHWIN's American masterpiece PORGY AND BESS will be touring the United Kingdom and Eire as part of their continuing World tour presented by Peter Klein and the Porgy Group Inc. Since 1992, this stunning and triumphant production has played to standing ovations and worldwide acclaim on five continents and in over 400 cities. PORGY AND BESS is based on the DuBose Heyward novel that tells the moving story of the cripple Porgy and the residents of Charleston's famed Catfish Row. It later became a successful play called PORGY written by Heyward and his wife, Dorothy, which served as the inspiration and basis for the collaboration between George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and Heyward that eventually became the boundary breaking musical drama, PORGY AND BESS. Recognized as an American masterpiece, the story entwines pride, prejudice, pathos and passion through a jazz and blues influenced score. Originally billed as a “Folk Opera”, PORGY AND BESS introduced classic Gershwin songs like Summertime, I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ and It Ain’t Necessarily So, as well as magnificent and enthralling choruses that stunned music and drama critics alike at its premiere in 1935. Presented by The Porgy Group, Inc. the cast is drawn from some of the USA’s leading opera companies. Directed by Will Roberson, the performance features a 14 piece orchestra under the musical direction of Maestro Zoltan Papp. Mr. Roberson had a long and successful relationship with this American opera classic, having directed productions for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and Atlanta Theatre Under the Stars. He was also Assistant Director for the Houston Grand Opera production, which toured Paris, London, and Italy. Scenic design is by James Fouchard, who has created sets for over 150 regional, stock and opera companies. Lighting design is by John McLain, who also designed the same show for the Houston Grand Opera. Costumes are by Candace Donnelly.
The producers of PORGY AND BESS have filled the cast with outstanding operatic singers from all over the United States. Alternating as 'Bess' are Elizabeth Graham and La Rose Saxon. Ms. Graham, a North Carolina native who is now Professor of Music at University of Florida, made her professional debut as both 'Clara' and 'Bess' with the Houston Grand Opera Company. She has many operatic roles to her credit and has appeared as soloist with various symphony orchestras. Ms. Saxon singing has taken her across the United States and around the world. She has performed the role of Bess many times, including performances with the Phoenix Symphony and the Frankfurt Opera. Ms. Saxon is currently on the faculty of the Music Academy of Mt. Vernon and the Harlem School of the Arts in New York. Samuel Clark Stevenson and Cedric Cannon will alternate in the role of ‘Porgy’. Mr Stevenson is a native of Charlotte, NC where audiences have enjoyed his performances in The Wiz, Purlie, and God’s Trombone. He is currently a member of the Grace Bumbry African American Heritage Ensemble which has performed at the world famous Salzberg Festival, as well as in many other great houses throughout Austria and Germany, and in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Cedric Cannon a Native of Fort Worth, TX, made his Metropolitan Opera debut singing the role of Robbins in Porgy and Bess. He made his debut as Porgy with the Frankfurt Opera and has gone on to perform this and several other leading operatic roles in opera houses throughout the world.
From Sunday 14 through Saturday 28 March 2004 PORGY AND BESS will be presented at High Wycombe, Buxton, Edinburgh, Dartford, Derby and Salford (see dates below).
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