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 Marissa Faith Curley - Jul 12, 2026
Soprano Anush Hovhannisyan and pianist Sam Jewison will headline BROADWAY RHAPSODY, a one-night-only open-air concert at Opera Holland Park, backed by a 40-piece orchestra.
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jul 11, 2026
Maestro Michael Fennelly and his Arcadia Symphony celebrated America's 250th anniversary with a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. The evening featured a surprise appearance by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, who joined the orchestra on-stage for a special performance. Check out the photos!
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 9, 2026
M.U.S.i.C. Stars in the Classics will present two outdoor chamber music concerts at a private Orange Village home, featuring award-winning musicians performing works from classical to jazz.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 9, 2026
The Flea announced the cast of BEYOND THE STARDUST, an immersive nightlife show conceived by Niegel Smith and The Illustrious Blacks, featuring aerialists, vocalists, and dancers in an Afro-disco-space-punk production.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 7, 2026
The Mark Morris Dance Group will return to Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York, on July 30, 2026, with a program of live music and contemporary dance. A free Dance for PD workshop led by David Leventhal will be offered July 28.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 7, 2026
New York Festival of Song announced its upcoming season, featuring four mainstage concerts at Merkin Hall co-presented by Kaufman Music Center, plus standalone programs including A GOYISHE CHRISTMAS TO YOU! and a Juilliard collaboration.
by Adela González Pérez - Jul 3, 2026
El espectáculo, bajo la dirección artística de Antonio Banderas, se presentará los días 18 y 19 de julio.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 1, 2026
The Great American Songbook Foundation announced Scott Bradlee, Adam Kantor, and Miche Braden as guest mentors for the 2026 Songbook Academy, joining previously announced headliners Lea Salonga, Mandy Gonzalez, and Michael Feinstein.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 1, 2026
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival will present the Caroga Arts Ensemble in a concert featuring saxophonist Eddie Barbash and the KASA Quartet. Learn more here.
by Theresa Bertram - Jun 30, 2026
What did our critic think of THE 29TH ANNUAL STARS AND STRIPES CELEBRATION at MacArthur Park?
by Stephi Wild - Jun 24, 2026
The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will perform two free Patriotic Pops concerts at Overlander Bandshell in Portage and Bronson Park in Kalamazoo, featuring music by Sousa, Williams, and Copland, plus a drone show finale.
by Adela González Pérez - Jun 23, 2026
El compositor fusiona sus vivencias neoyorquinas con música de Sondheim, Glass y Gershwin en el último estreno de Teatros del Canal
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 22, 2026
Chara Percussion Ensemble will perform arrangements of American classics, including works by Copland, Gershwin, and Bernstein, at the Performing Arts Center in Brewster.
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.
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".
