Photo Flash: First Look at Rufus Bonds, Jr., Nicola Hughes and More in Open Air Theatre's PORGY AND BESS

Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including 'Summertime', 'I Got Plenty of Nothing', 'I Loves You Porgy' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So', Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regents Park Open Air Theatre's Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L. Murray. Check out a first look at the production below!

Drawing on talent from both sides of the Atlantic, Rufus Bonds Jr plays Porgy and Nicola Hughes plays Bess, with Phillip Boykin as Crown, Cedric Neal as Sportin' Life and Olivier Award-winning Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

The full cast of Porgy and Bess also includes David Albury, Angela Caesar, Jade Ewen, Alex Giannini, Owain Gwynn, Tyrone Huntley, George Ikediashi, Claudia Kariuki, Arthur Kyeyune, Oliver Lidert, Leon Lopez,Jay Marsh, Tania Mathurin, Ellen O'Grady, Golda Rosheuvel, Yemie Sonuga and Marvin Springer.

The set and costumes for Porgy and Bess will be designed by Katrina Lindsay whose credits include Tableand London Road (both National Theatre), Cabaret (West End and UK Tour), and Les Liaisons Dangereuses(Broadway) for which she won the 2008 Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award winner for Best Costume Design. Choreography will be by Liam Steel whose credits include the musical staging and choreography for the film of LES MISERABLES and at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, co-directed and choreographed Into the Woods which was remounted at the Delacorte Theatre in New York's Central Park in 2012.

Porgy and Bess is part of the 2014 season at Regents Park Open Air Theatre which also includes All My Son'swhich ran from 15 May to 7 June, Hobson's Choice starring Mark Benton from 12 June to 12 July, Twelfth Night (Re-imagined for everyone aged 6 and over) from 21 June to 12 July and To Kill a Mockingbird from 28 August to 13 September.

For further information please visit www.openairtheatre.com

Rufus Bonds Jr, Phillip Boykin and Cedric Neal are appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes' Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

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