George Gershwin
Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY
Latest News on 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.
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Productions
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Movies
[ 1937 ] music by
[ 1938 ] music by
[ 1945 ] music
[ 1951 ] music by
[ 1957 ] songwriter
[ 1964 ] songs by
[ 2013 ] music
[ 2018 ] music and lyrics by
Awards and Nominations
George GershwinThe Gershwins' Porgy And Bess
winner
George Gershwin, Crazy For You
Videos
Video: First Look at GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR at Farmers Alley Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2026-04-22 15:31:56
Video: Brittany Renee And Ryan Speedo Green Sing From PORGY AND BESS At The Metropolitan Opera
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-29 20:41:17
Coming Up at 54 Below: Exclusive Previews from Jenn Colella, Lillias White & More
by Joey Mervis - 2025-03-17 15:37:23
Video: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Performs 'Rhapsody in Blue' With Boston Symphony Orchestra
by Joshua Wright - 2024-09-25 10:49:31
Video: Cast and Creatives Talk NEXT TO NORMAL at Barrington Stage
by Stephi Wild - 2024-09-04 06:53:59
Video: Inside Rehearsals for Barrington Stage's NEXT TO NORMAL Starring Natalie Joy Johnson
by Joshua Wright - 2024-08-06 10:49:52
VIDEO: First Look At Hershey Felder in GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE At TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
by Joshua Wright - 2024-02-01 12:50:53
News
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 18, 2026
54 Below will present an upcoming week of performances including Tony winner Melba Moore, Emmet Cahill, George Young, and the final performances of SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, plus a tribute to Olivia Rodrigo and more.
by Claudio Erlichman - Jun 17, 2026
Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), Um לugar Para Nós – From Broadway to Brazil premieres on August 16 at Sala São Paulo. Directed by Gustavo Barchilon, this one-night benefit concert brings together leading stars of Brazilian musical theatre, accompanied by the São Paulo Big Band and Orchestra. Through iconic songs from Broadway classics, the production pays tribute to the extraordinary contribution of Jewish composers, lyricists and producers who helped shape American musical theatre, while also honoring the pioneers who introduced the genre to Brazil. Blending music, history and cultural reflection, the event celebrates immigration, diversity and artistic exchange in a moving journey from Broadway to Brazil
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 16, 2026
Jason Graae will reprise IT'S A GRAAE NIGHT FOR SINGING! at 54 Below in New York City, following sold-out performances in Los Angeles and an earlier NYC run. Gerald Sternbach serves as musical director.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Jun 15, 2026
Artemisia LeFay's new show, IT'S ALL A SWINDLE, plays 6/16 at Don't Tell Mama and 10/8 at the Laurie Beechman in NYC. Read a conversation with the singer about what makes Weimar-era music so compelling in today's political climate
by Michael Gioia - Jun 16, 2026
Steven Spielberg reveals Colman Domingo was set to play Todd Duncan in a scrapped Porgy and Bess film — before casting him in Lincoln instead.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 11, 2026
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota has revealed its 31st season, featuring 24 concerts across multiple series, including Soirée, Sunday Best, and Top Shelf Tuesdays, with performances at venues throughout Sarasota.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 10, 2026
The New Jersey Youth Symphony will perform four public concerts and three community appearances across Northern Europe and the Baltics, with educational exchanges at Helsinki's Sibelius Academy under conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 10, 2026
Caramoor will present five concerts across its grounds to mark America's 250th anniversary, featuring The Knights, pianist Conrad Tao, Poiesis Quartet, a Louis Armstrong centennial celebration, and a Fourth of July fireworks pops concert.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026
Olivier Award winner Danielle de Niese will make her Melbourne Symphony Orchestra debut at the 2026 Winter Gala, performing works by Bernstein, Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Jerome Kern at Arts Centre Melbourne's Hamer Hall.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2026
The GRAMMY Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra revealed its 2026/27 season, featuring Carnegie Hall programs, a European and Japan tour with Branford Marsalis, and collaborations with Isata Kanneh-Mason, Anthony McGill, and Garrick Ohlsson.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 2, 2026
New World Symphony announced a contract extension for Artistic Director Stéphane Denève, keeping him at the helm of the Miami Beach orchestra through the 2031–32 season, his second five-year term in the role.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2026
Next month, 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Grammy and Emmy winner Will Roland, Tony winner Norm Lewis and more.
by Stephi Wild - May 27, 2026
Chamber Music Northwest announced its 56th annual summer festival, CONFLUENCE: Our Shared Voices, featuring 70+ artists, three world premieres, and performances across Portland, Oregon venues.
by Gregory Fletcher - May 25, 2026
The sold-out show featured the premiere of BABE: ELABORATIO, a symphony dedicated to Connick's mother, whose lifelong dream was for her son to perform at Carnegie Hall
by Stephi Wild - May 21, 2026
Portland Opera announced its upcoming 2026/27 season, themed 'Driven by Vision,' with full programming details available from the company. Learn more about the season here!
by R. Scott Reedy - May 17, 2026
What did our critic think of JON BATISTE BRINGS HIS MUSICAL GENIUS TO BOSTON POPS at Symphony Hall?
by A.A. Cristi - May 15, 2026
Mark Morris Dance Group closes its 45th anniversary season at The Joyce Theater with three programs featuring jazz, bluegrass, and country, including a world premiere set to music by Hazel Dickens.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 15, 2026
Next week, 54 Below will present the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Claire Kwon, Clint Holmes, Sing4Her in support of The Foundation for Women’s Cancer and more.
by A.A. Cristi - May 14, 2026
Music Worcester announced its 2026-2027 season, featuring 23 performances at Worcester venues including pianist Emanuel Ax, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Ballet Hispánico, and the Martha Graham Dance Company.
by A.A. Cristi - May 12, 2026
Goodspeed Musicals announced casting for CRAZY FOR YOU, the Tony Award-winning Gershwin musical comedy, featuring Will Burton and Brittany Zeinstra in the lead roles at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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).
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.
George Gershwin has won the American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for "Crazy For You".
