Presented for the first time in Lyric Opera history, Porgy and Bess is the quintessential American opera. The source of some of the twentieth century's most beloved songs—including “Summertime”—this jazzy Gershwin score is unforgettable. The opera paints a vivid picture of life in the Charleston neighborhood Catfish Row, where a poignant “opposites attract” romance unfolds alongside a powerful portrait of a community that unites in the face of tragedy and triumph.
Content advisory: Porgy and Bess contains depictions of violence, domestic abuse, murder, and drug use.
Cast
Eric Greene*
Porgy
Michelle Bradley*
Bess
Donovan Singletary*
Crown
Jermaine Smith*
Sportin' Life
Brandie Sutton*
Clara
Norman Garrett*
Jake
Katerina Burton*
Serena
La'Shelle Allen*
Maria
David Morgans
Mingo
Bernard Holcomb*
Robbins/Crab Man
Marcel Daly*
Peter, the Honeyman
Evan J. Nelson
Jim
Amari Lewis
Annie
David Pelino*^
Nelson
MiKayla Lynn Hatfield^
Strawberry Woman
Alex Smith^
Detective
Ensemble
Soprano
- Feban Assefa*
- Maurissa Cunningham*
- Alexis Derritt*
- LaTeesha Jackson (also playing Lily)
- Sheriece Veazey-McNally*
Alto
- Prenicia Clifton
- Daphany Edwards*
- Brietta Goodman*
- Nguyen Nicholson*
- Toni Rainey*
Tenor
- Prince-Russel Johnson*
- Shane St. James-Wolfe*
Bass-Baritone
- Cameron Ferguson
- Paul J. Joseph*
- Anthony Perkins Jr.
- Brian Keith Smith Jr. (also playing the Undertaker)
^ Lyric Opera Resident Artist
Creative Team
Michael Ellis Ingram
Conductor
Francesca Zambello
Director
Eric Sean Fogel
Associate Director/Choreographer
Joshua Horowitz
Assistant Director
Peter J. Davison
Set Designer
Paul Tazwell
Costume Designer
Mark McCullough
Lighting Designer
A.J. Guban
Revival Lighting Designer
Photos of the Show
Porgy and Bess photos by Karli Cadel for Houston Grand Opera.
Listen on Spotify
Show Art
Season Sponsors
With public support from the State of Missouri and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Porgy and Bess is supported, in part, by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund and the Mark Edelman Theater Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
