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Overview

Synopsis

Porgy and Bess tells the story of the unshakeable love between Porgy, a crippled beggar, and Bess, a beautiful woman haunted by the demons of her past. The tight-knit African-American community of Catfish Row is shocked when Crown, Bess’ brutal, violent lover, murders Robbins during a craps game. Left with no one amongst people who look down on her, Bess is taken in by the kind Porgy. As their love grows, Bess seems finally free from her past as the two look to spend a long, happy life together. When Crown returns, Porgy and Bess’ relationship is put in peril, as Crown seeks to exert his control over her once more. Porgy and Bess was the final stage work of composer George Gershwin. A combination of opera, jazz, folk, and spirituals, this legendary and heartfelt opera is largely regarded as one of the finest American musical works of the 20th century.

Show Information

Based On Book By
DuBose Heyward
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Porgy 1927 play
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1935
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Catfish Row, Charleston, South Carolina, 1930s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Optional
Ideal For
College/University, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Opera, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Bess

Lead

Female

Soprano

Porgy

Lead

Male

Bass-Baritone

Crown

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Sportin' Life

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Clara

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Jake

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Serena

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Robbins

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Maria

Supporting

Female

Alto

Peter

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Detective

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Frazier

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mr. Archdale

Featured

Male

Spoken

Jim

Featured

Male

Baritone

Undertaker

Featured

Male

Baritone

Coroner

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mingo

Featured

Male

Tenor

Strawberry Woman

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Crab Man

Featured

Male

Baritone

Lily

Featured

Female

Soprano

Annie

Featured

Female

Soprano

Nelson

Featured

Male

Tenor

Jasbo Brown

Featured

Male

Silent

Scipio

Featured

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Policemen

Featured

Male

Silent

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

ACT ONE

  • Summertime” - Clara
  • “Roll Dem Bones” - Mingo, Sportin’ Life, Jake, Robbins, Jim, Crap Shooters
  • “A Woman Is a Sometime Thing” - Jake, Sportin’ Life, Ensemble
  • “Porgy’s Entrance” - Ensemble
  • “Crap Game” - Ensemble
  • “The Killing of Robbins” - Ensemble
  • “Gone, Gone, Gone” - Ensemble
  • “Overflow” - Ensemble
  • My Man’s Gone Now” - Serena
  • “Leaving for the Promised Land” - Bess, Ensemble

ACT TWO

  • “It Takes a Long Pull to Get There” - Jake, Fishermen
  • I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” - Porgy, Ensemble
  • “I Hates Yo’ Struttin’ Style” - Maria
  • “Picnics Is All Right…” - Sportin’ Life, Bess
  • “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” - Porgy
  • “Oh, I Can’t Sit Down” - Ensemble
  • “I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (Reprise)” - Porgy
  • “I Ain’t Got No Shame” - Ensemble
  • “It Ain’t Necessarily So” - Sportin’ Life, Ensemble
  • “Shame On All You Sinners!” - Serena
  • “What You Want With Bess?” - Bess, Crown
  • “Oh, Doctor Jesus” - Serena, Peter, Porgy, Maria
  • “Vendors Trio” - Strawberry Woman, Peter the Honeyman, Crab Man
  • “I Was Powerful Sick” - Bess, Porgy
  • “I Loves You Porgy” - Porgy, Bess
  • “Oh, Doctor Jesus (Reprise)” - Ensemble
  • “Summertime (Reprise)” - Clara
  • “Oh, There’s Somebody Knocking at the Door” - Peter, Mingo, Maria, Ensemble
  • “A Red Headed Woman” - Crown

ACT THREE

  • “Clara Don’t You Be Downhearted” - Women
  • “Summertime (Reprise)” - Bess
  • There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York” - Sportin’ Life
  • “Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess?” - Porgy, Maria, Serena
  • “Oh Lord, I’m on My Way” - Porgy, Ensemble

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    The states in the most southern and eastern part of the U.S.A.

    Genre of music inspired by oral traditions and often without a specific composer, sharing stories of national or cultural identity. Folk music is regional and found worldwide.

    A genre of music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by syncopated rhythms, complex chords, elements of improvisation, and distortions of pitch and timbre.

    A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.

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