Porgy and Bess - Broadway Creative Team

Ira Gershwin, the first songwriter to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was born in New York City on December 6, 1896. In 1917 The Evening Sun published his first song ("You May Throw All The Rice You Desire But Please Friends, Throw No Shoes"). Four years later Ira enjoyed his first major stage success, Two Little Girls in Blue, written with another Broadway newcomer, Vincent Youmans. In 1924 Ira and his brother, George, created the smash hit Lady Be Good and went on to continue their remarkable collaboration through a dozen major stage scores, producing such standards as "Fascinating Rhythm," ... read more 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 ... read more Ira Gershwin, the first songwriter to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was born in New York City on December 6, 1896. In 1917 The Evening Sun published his first song ("You May Throw All The Rice You Desire But Please Friends, Throw No Shoes"). Four years later Ira enjoyed his first major stage success, Two Little Girls in Blue, written with another Broadway newcomer, Vincent Youmans. In 1924 Ira and his brother, George, created the smash hit Lady Be Good and went on to continue their remarkable collaboration through a dozen major stage scores, producing such standards as "Fascinating Rhythm," ... read more Mr. Schmidt has designed nearly 60 Broadway shows and dozens of regional productions for the Guthrie, The Old Globe, The Alley Theatre, and Seattle Rep, among others. He has three Drama Desk Awards (Into the Woods, Veronica's Room, Over Here!), three Tony nominations (The Front Page, Into the Woods, 42nd Street), an Obie, and many other awards. ... read more Tazewell Thompson is an internationally acclaimed theater and opera director and award-winning playwright. He has directing credits, more than 150, many world and American premieres, in major opera houses and theaters across the USA, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Africa, Japan and Canada. His award-winning play, Constant Star, has had 16 productions in major theaters across the country; Mary T & Lizzy K, commissioned by Molly Smith and produced at Arena Stage, is the recipient of The Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award; author of Jam & Spice; an adaptation of A Christmas Carol; and a contributing writer to Our War, ... read more