McDonald and Lewis, who play Bess and Porgy, respectively, join two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (The First, Race, Dreamgirls) as Sportin' Life, Tony nominee Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys) as Jake and Nikki Renee Daniels (Anything Goes, Les Miserables) as Clara.

Lewis, McDonald and Grier are also confirmed to repeat their performances in Porgy and Bess when the work arrives at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre Dec. 17, prior to an official opening Jan. 12, 2012.

According to A.R.T., "This classic American tale tells the story of the beautiful and troubled Bess, who turns to Porgy, the crippled beggar, in search of safety after her possessive lover Crown commits murder. As Porgy and Bess’s love grows, their future is threatened by Crown and the conniving Sportin' Life."

Here, McDonald and Lewis talk about their characters in the re-imagined production that will soon begin performances. Also, the stars offer a glimpse into the rehearsal process, and director Diane Paulus discusses how the production has been changed from an opera to a musical, with more of a focus on the story.

To check out the cast in rehearsals, look below: