PORGY & BESS Ineligible for Best Book of a Musical?

The revised book of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess has been the subject of much discussion since it's debut at A.R.T. last August, and according to Patrick Healy of the New York Times, there is still debate over its Tony eligibility. Last week, when the Tony administration committee made a decision regarding David Alan Grier's eligibility as a featured actor, they 'took no action' with the musical's updated book (by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray), thus making it ineligible for a 'Best Book of a Musical' Tony Award.

The American Theater Wing's Ted Chapin told the NYT: “The only request we received was about David Alan Grier. Since ‘Porgy and Bess’ is technically a revival adaptation of the 1935 opera instead of a new original work, the only way we’d consider eligibility for the new book is if the producers made a case for it.”

Lead producer Jeffrey Richards added that a second letter was indeed sent to the committee in regards to the revised book. Chapin denied that the second letter was received, adding:“The ‘Porgy’ producers actually provided information, in their formal submission to the Tony committee, that characterized the changes in the book as being modest. No one knows what Jeffrey is talking about.”

Nominations will be announced May 1.

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The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, “Private Practice”) as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, “In Living Color”) as Sporting Life.

Porgy and Bess also stars Phillip Boykin as Crown, Nikki Renée Daniels as Clara, Joshua Henry as Jake, Christopher Innvar as Detective, Bryonha Marie Parham as Serena and NaTasha Yvette Williams as Mariah, as well as Sumayya Ali, Allison Blackwell, Roosevelt André Credit, Trevon Davis, Joseph Dellger, Wilkie Ferguson, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Gavin Gregory, Heather Hill, David Hughey, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Alicia Hall Moran, Cedric Neal, PhumzileSojola, Nathaniel Stampley, Julius Thomas III, J.D. Webster and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson.

The classic story by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward is set in Charleston’s fabled Catfish Row, where the beautiful Bess struggles to break free from her scandalous past, and the only one who can rescue her is the crippled but courageous Porgy. Threatened by her formidable former lover Crown, and the seductive enticements of the colorful troublemaker Sporting Life, Porgy and Bess’ relationship evolves into a deep romance that triumphs as one of theater’s most exhilarating love stories.

www.PorgyandBessonBroadway.com