George Gershwin Headshot

George Gershwin

Date of Death: July 11, 1937 (38)

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY

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George Gershwin BIO

George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898, and began his musical training when he was 13. At 16 he quit high school to work as a "song plugger" for a music publisher, and soon he was writing songs himself. "Swanee," as introduced by Al Jolson, brought George his first real fame and led to his writing a succession of 22 musical comedies, most with his older brother, Ira. The Gershwins' shows include Lady Be Good, Oh, Kay!, Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Of Thee I Sing. From his early career George had ambitions to compose serious music, and his classical masterpieces include "Rhapsody In Blue," "Concerto In F," "An American In Paris" and "Second Rhapsody." In the late '20s George became fascinated by the DuBose Heyward novel Porgy, recognizing it as a perfect vehicle for opera using jazz and blues idioms. The folk opera Porgy and Bess had its Broadway premiere in October of 1935. In 1937 George was at the height of his career. While working on the score of The Goldwyn Follies in Hollywood, he collapsed, and on July 11, died of a brain tumor. He was not quite 39 years old.

George Gershwin Productions

 
[West End, 2023]
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[Broadway, 2015]
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[Off-Broadway, 2015]
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[Paris, 2014]
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[Broadway, 1937]
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[Broadway, 1930]
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[Broadway, 1927]
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[Broadway, 1922]
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[Broadway, 1918]
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George Gershwin Movies

Shall We Dance
[ 1937 ] music by
The Goldwyn Follies
[ 1938 ] music by
Rhapsody in Blue
[ 1945 ] music
An American in Paris
[ 1951 ] music by
Funny Face
[ 1957 ] songwriter
Kiss Me, Stupid
[ 1964 ] songs by
The Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess'
[ 2013 ] music
An American in Paris - The Musical
[ 2018 ] music and lyrics by

George Gershwin Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards - 2007 - Best New Musical

George GershwinThe Gershwins' Porgy And Bess


winner
Olivier Awards - 1993 - The American Express Award for Best New Musical

George Gershwin, Crazy For You

George Gershwin Videos

George Gershwin News


Juliet Ewing to Perform The Music Of George Gershwin at Don't Tell Mama

Juliet Ewing will return to Don't Tell Mama with an encore performance celebrating George Gershwin's music, featuring new arrangements by Ron Drotos. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Review: PORGY AND BESS at Music Theater Heritage

Now playing in the Grand Theater at Crown Center is Music Theater Heritage’s production of Gershwin’s “PORGY AND BESS.”  This is an example of MTH going “all in” on a very challenging show and producing an extremely credible final product. 
Casts Set for BOEING BOEING, NEXT TO NORMAL, A TENDER THING & FORGIVENESS at Barrington Stage

Barrington Stage Company has revealed the casts for BOEING BOEING, NEXT TO NORMAL, A TENDER THING, and FORGIVENESS. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR Comes to the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in August

HFP LIVE will present the world premiere of pianist/actor/playwright/producer Hershey Felder and Jonathan Silvestri in Rachmaninoff And The Tsar, a new musical play, for a strictly limited engagement, at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA, August 7-25, 2024.
Finalists Selected for National Songbook Academy

From hundreds of applicants nationwide, 40 high school students from 14 states have been selected to participate in this year’s Songbook Academy®, aweeklong summer intensive that immerses young performers in America’s musical heritage and helps them develop as artists under the guidance of Broadway stars and other entertainment professionals and music educators. 
JUDY GARLAND: A CELEBRATION 3 CD/2 LP Set To Be Released in July

Trapeze Music & Entertainment Limited/Acrobat Music has announced the release on July 5, 2024 of the 3-CD 73 track album Judy Garland: A Celebration, selections of which are included on the first volume of an LP of the same name. C
RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR by Hershey Felder To Play Balboa Theatre in August

Hershey Felder will star as Sergei V. Rachmaninoff in the world premiere of RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR, a new musical play at Balboa Theatre, San Diego. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Fantasia Orchestra Will Perform Two Concerts at the 2024 Proms at St Jude's

Fantasia Orchestra – a dynamic ensemble of some of the UK’s finest young musicians who have recently announced their BBC Proms debut this year – will perform two concerts at the 2024 Proms at St Jude’s, their sixth consecutive year at the festival.
Review: JOE JACKSON at At Davidson Theatre

What did our critic think of JOE JACKSON at At Davidson Theatre?
Max Clayton, Sally Struthers, Angie Schworer & More to Star in CRAZY FOR YOU at Ogunquit Playhouse

Ogunquit Playhouse has revealed the full cast for CRAZY FOR YOU. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
Review: I GOT RHYTHM from choreographer David Nixon CBE

I GOT RHYTHM kicks off the season that marks 90 years of Cape Town City Ballet. And that is something that we should be truly proud of here in the cape. I was curious to see that CTCB went with something non-traditional for the start of this big season. I GOT RHYTHM celebrates the music of George Gershwin.
Princeton Festival Opens With Superstar Soprano Angel Blue In June

The Princeton Festival, running from June 7-22, opens with GRAMMY-winning soprano Angel Blue performing her favorite arias.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra to Present Peter Boyer's RHAPSODY IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra presents the Virginia premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with piano soloist Jeffrey Biegel. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Free Concerts By The No Name Pops to Take Place in Philadelphia This Month

Enjoy free concerts by the NO NAME POPS in Philadelphia this month. Join the community for an evening of live music and entertainment.
LADY, BE GOOD Comes to Teatro Massimo Opera House Palermo

A brand-new production of the Gershwin musical LADY, BE GOOD will premiere at the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy on Tuesday 18 June.
JULIET EWING: RISE UP SINGING Returns To Don't Tell Mama This June

Juliet Ewing returns with her solo cabaret debut, 'Rise Up Singing,' featuring the music of George Gershwin on June 19 at 7PM at DON'T TELL MAMA.
Review: Opening Night at Pops Showcases George Gershwin, Harry Connick, Jr., and More

There were three great pianists on the program when the Boston Pops recently opened its 138th season at Symphony Hall.
Cast and Creatives Set For PORGY AND BESS at Music Theater Heritage

Music Theater Heritage has announced the cast and creative team for The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Performances run June 6 through June 23.
Springfield Chamber Players Return To Longmeadow Adult Center For Free Outdoor Concert

The Springfield Chamber Players will return to the Longmeadow Adult Center with a free performance by Quartetto Mosso on Thursday, June 13, at 6PM. The performance, held rain or shine, features violinists Ronald Gorevic and Beth Welty, violist Delores Thayer, and cellist Yoonhee Ko.
SOUTH PACIFIC & More Announced For Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's 55th Season

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston (RMT) will bring three timeless and timely classics to the stage for its 55th Season: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific (June 14- June 23, 2024),  All Shook Up, inspired by the music of Elvis Presley (July 12 - July 21, 2024), and An American in Paris (August 9 - August 18, 2024). 

George Gershwin FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has George Gershwin written?

George Gershwin has written 48 shows including Half-Past Eight (Composer), La, La, Lucille (Composer), La-La-Lucille! (Composer), Morris Gest's "Midnight Whirl" (Composer), George White's Scandals [1920] (Composer), Snapshots of 1921 (Composer), The Broadway Whirl (Composer), George White's Scandals [1921] (Composer), The French Doll (Composer), George White's Scandals [1922] (Composer), Our Nell (Composer), George White's Scandals [1923] (Composer), Sweet Little Devil (Composer), George White's Scandals [1924] (Composer), Primrose (Composer), Lady, Be Good (Composer), Tell Me More! (Composer), Tip-Toes (Composer), Song of the Flame (Composer), Oh, Kay! (Composer), Strike Up the Band (Composer), Funny Face (Composer), Rosalie (Composer), Treasure Girl (Composer), Show Girl (Composer), Girl Crazy (Composer), Of Thee I Sing (Composer), Pardon My English (Composer), Let 'Em Eat Cake (Composer), Porgy and Bess (Composer), All Points West (Composer), Who Cares? (Composer), Do It Again! (Composer), Mr. Words (Composer), My One and Only (Composer), Gertrude Stein and a Companion (Additional Music), Reaching for the Moon (Composer), Crazy for You (Composer), The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm (Composer/Lyricist), Jolson & Co. (Composer/Lyricist), American Rhapsody: A New Musical Revue (Composer), George Gershwin Alone (Composer/Lyricist), Elaine Stritch At Liberty (Composer), Stairway to Paradise (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist), The Gershwins' An American In Paris (Composer), Come Fly Away (Composer), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Composer), A Night With Janis Joplin (Composer).

What awards has George Gershwin been nominated for?

George Gershwin has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable nominations include Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess" and the American Express Award for Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "Crazy For You". These nominations highlight the recognition and acclaim that Gershwin's musical works have received in the industry.

What awards has George Gershwin won?

George Gershwin has won the American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for "Crazy For You".

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