Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre L. Murray’s adaptation of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre January 12, 2012. The production, directed by Diane Paulus with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, played 28 previews and 293 performances before closing September 23, 2012. The revival earned 10 Tony Award nominations, winning Best Actress in a Musical for Audra McDonald’s performance as Bess and Best Revival of a Musical.
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, and Dorothy and DuBose Heyward's operatic adaptation of the Heywards' play Porgy follows the lives of the inhabitants of Catfish Row, an African-American section of Charleston, South Carolina, including Porgy, his beloved Bess, who is under the thrall of the dangerous Crown, and the sinewy drug dealer Sporting Life.
In addition to McDonald, Porgy and Bess starred Norm Lewis as Porgy, David Alan Grier as Sporting Life, Phillip Boykin as Crown, Nikki Renée Daniels as Clara, Joshua Henry as Jake, Christopher Innvar as Detective, Bryonha Marie Parham as Serena, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Mariah alongside Allison Blackwell, Roosevelt André Credit, Trevon Davis, Joseph Dellger, Wilkie Ferguson III, Heather Hill, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Alicia Hall Moran Cedric Neal, Phumzile Sojola, Nathaniel Stampley, J.D. Webster, and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson. Rounding out the company were Carmen Ruby Floyd, David Hughey, and Julius Thomas III as swings.
The revival featured scenic design by Riccardo Hernández, costume design by ESosa, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners with stage management by Julie Baldauff and Sharika Niles. For the complete cast and creative team, visit PlaybillVault.com/PorgyAndBess.
