Porgy and Bess

Set in 1920s South Carolina, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess is a thought-provoking, gritty, and spirited ‘folk opera’.

When Bess is abandoned by her lover, the only person who shows her kindness is the crippled beggar Porgy. They commit to a new life together, but the destructive forces of her violent ex-lover Crown and her drug dealer Sportin’ Life work against Bess to pull the pair apart.

Composer George Gershwin, who also composed Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, infuses a wonderful operatic score with jazz, gospel, and blues influence, lush orchestral underscoring, and big spiritual chorus numbers. The opera also contains many songs which have become popular jazz and blues covers, including the well-known "Summertime," "A Woman Is a Sometime Thing," "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," and "I Loves You, Porgy."

Running Time: Approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.