The Ongoing Evolution of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Stars Norm Lewis (Porgy) and Audra McDonald (Bess) join director Diane
Paulus to discuss the evolution and the current adaptation of Porgy and
Bess. Going back to the original novel "Porgy" by DuBose Heyward (and
the subsequent play, co-authored by his wife Dorothy) co-adapter Suzan-Lori
Parks — the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama
— sought to polish and clarify the characters and story arcs. With reverence
for story and score, the cast and creatives approach the production as a new
work that will bring the classic Gershwin jazz opera to a new generation
of theatre and opera fans. For a musical preview of the show, click here.
