PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Porgy and Bess With Bryonha ParhamAs The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess approaches its end on Broadway, we revisit this exclusive backstage feature from earlier in the run. Bryonha Parham, who stops the show with her rendition of "My Man's Gone Now," takes Playbill.com through a busy day with the residents of Catfish Row.
By
Matthew Blank
September 20, 2012
Armed with a digital camera, Parham takes readers on a tour of the Richard Rodgers Theatre, introducing the many talented people who make the show happen eight times a week and offering an extensive look at the tight-knit ensemble's daily routines.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Porgy and Bess With Bryonha Parham
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Porgy and Bess With Bryonha Parham
Spend a two-show day at The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess on Broadway, starring Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald. Bryonha Parham, who stops the show with her rendition of "My Man's Gone Now," takes Playbill.com through a busy day with the residents of Catfish Row. Read the Playbill.com story.
60 PHOTOS
Every morning starts with dog cuddling. It's a must! This is my rescue dog, Obi. We're both very mysterious.
Bryonha Parham
Usually before two-show days, I have breakfast with friends. It's great catch up time AND it warms up my healthy mix!
Bryonha Parham
One of my besties, Jon, and my friend Rachel who came all the way from Milwaukee to see the show.
Bryonha Parham
My view from the stage door at the Richard Rodgers. I have the best job... in the world.
Bryonha Parham
Me and our sweet doorman, Jimmy.
Bryonha Parham
After 4 flights of stairs, we're at the dressing room!
Bryonha Parham
Pincurls. It's real life, people.
Bryonha Parham
Me and my awesome dressing roommate, Nikki Renee Daniels. Here's hoping her Broadway credits rub off on me!
Bryonha Parham
Allison Blackwell and DAG headed down to places.
Bryonha Parham
Our amazing wig crew, Tom and Brendan.
Bryonha Parham
Lisa and AJ, showing some love before hitting the stage! (GREAT TEETH)
Bryonha Parham
Norm on a break from the stage. Not too many of those!
Bryonha Parham
WE ARE TRUE LADIES!
Bryonha Parham
Nikki and Allison are all smiles for the picnic.
Bryonha Parham
NaTasha Yvette Williams and Nate Stampley during intermission. (My eye spies a reincarnated man...)
Bryonha Parham
When Joe Dellger's not playing a racist onstage, he's backstage providing ensemble vocals.
Bryonha Parham
Alicia, AJ, Puma and Roo grabbing a quick pic backstage during intermission.
Bryonha Parham
Yleanna and Kurt, two fabulous dressers, hard at work during intermission.
Bryonha Parham
Constantine Kitsopoulos and his wife during intermission. SO CUTE.
Bryonha Parham
Jesse, our wonderful costume supervisor, and myself. Love this man!
Bryonha Parham
Kate is Audra's SUPERB dresser, and a wonderful woman to boot.
Bryonha Parham
Audra's slip, waiting to cloak that rock hard bod. I mean, have you SEEN that woman??
Bryonha Parham
Norm: Intense onstage AND off.
Bryonha Parham
Sometimes, you just need to relax with the interweb.
Bryonha Parham
Trevon, myself and Nikki smiling before the storm.
Bryonha Parham
Norm practicing the "I'm poor and lonely" face. It's coming along nicely.
Bryonha Parham
Norm getting beaten by his dresser. Staged... I think.
Bryonha Parham
An actor prepares.
Bryonha Parham
Sharika Niles, one of the AMAZING stage managers!
Bryonha Parham
Phillip Boykin getting all greased up for his entrance in the storm scene.
Bryonha Parham
Sometimes he can be resistant.
Bryonha Parham
Joshua Henry is silly. He told me not to use this pic.
Bryonha Parham
Audra, post-cocaine. Things are always a little lighter post-cocaine.
Bryonha Parham
Me collecting for Broadway Cares after the matinee! Love getting that audience reaction right after. People are so moved!
Bryonha Parham
Some of the cast rehearsing for Easter Bonnet. SANG CHILDREN!
Bryonha Parham
Joshua Henry conducting. What a forearm!
Bryonha Parham
Me getting my eyebrows threaded at Pinky's. Eyebrow maintanance is a must, people.
Bryonha Parham
Myself, Phillip Boykin and Wilkie Ferguson in the men's room actin' a fool!
Bryonha Parham
Phillip going for a very high note... while Wilkie directs.
Bryonha Parham
NaTasha and myself lovin on each other.
Bryonha Parham
AMAZING DRESSERS. HANDS DOWN.
Bryonha Parham
David Alan Grier and I demonstrate our radiation-free handsets for the iPhone. We love fashion and technology.
Bryonha Parham
Our female swings, Sumayya and Carmen, looking fierce without a stitch of makeup!
Bryonha Parham
Heather Hill, beatin' that face.
Bryonha Parham
Trevon covering his tattoo before the evening show.
Bryonha Parham
Peppermint or chamomile? That is the question.
Bryonha Parham
Heather reading the Times. We're all very cultured.
Bryonha Parham
Roo and Wilkie with our fabulous male swings, Julius and David!
Bryonha Parham
Alicia Hall Moran rolling those thighs. The stairs here at the Richard Rodgers are not a joke.
Bryonha Parham
Cedric Neal eating. If it ain't a donut, it's a cupcake and if it ain't cupcake, it's pizza--pictured here! Where does it go??
Bryonha Parham
Pre-show prayer
Bryonha Parham
Me getting my wig on!
Bryonha Parham
Norm doing a quick jig before his last entrance.
Bryonha Parham
A quick pic before the last entrance of the day.
Bryonha Parham
NaTasha between dramatic moments!
Bryonha Parham
Our signed playbills and posters for Broadway Cares...
Bryonha Parham
The stage door crowd!
Bryonha Parham
Me signing a Playbill.
Bryonha Parham
Goodnight, midtown.
Bryonha Parham
And back home for more cuddle time. Thanks for spending the day with us. Come visit Porgy and Bess at the Richard Rodgers Theatre!
Parham's previous credits include Ragtime (Broadway revival), Ain't Love Grand, Red Eye of Love, For the Glory, Ain't Misbehavin', Crowns and Once on This Island.
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The opera has music by George Gershwin, lyrics by his brother Ira and a book and additional lyrics by DuBose Heyward. It is based on the play Porgy, by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. Norm Lewis (Sondheim on Sondheim, Side Show, Les Miserables) stars as the crippled beggar Porgy opposite four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, Marie Christine, Master Class) as Bess.
The cast also includes two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (The First, Race, Dreamgirls) as Sportin' Life, Tony nominee Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys, American Idiot) as Jake, Nikki Renee Daniels as Clara, Phillip Boykin as Crown, Bryonha Marie Parham as Serena, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Maria, Cedric Neal as Frazier, J.D. Webster as Mingo, Heather Hill as Lily, Phumzile Sojola as Peter and Nathaniel Stampley as Robbins.
The ensemble includes Allison Blackwell, Roosevelt Andre Credit, Trevon Davis, Joseph Dellger, Wilkie Ferguson, Alicia Hall Moran, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Lisa Nicole Wilkerson, Christopher Innvar, Carmen Ruby Floyd, David Hughey and Julius Thomas III.
Tony-nominated Hair director Diane Paulus directs the streamlined, two-and-a-half-hour version of the musical, which replaces portions of the sung recitative with dialogue. It opened Jan. 12 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and recently extended its run through Sept. 30. The Gershwin and Heyward estates gave Paulus their blessing to take a fresh approach to the four-hour opera. Paulus brought on board Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog, Book of Grace), who is credited with adaptation and additional scenes, and Pulitzer Prize nominee Diedre Murray (Running Man), credited with musical adaptation.
According to the producers, Porgy and Bess "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."
For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com. The Richard Rodgers Theatre is located at 226 West 46th Street.
Clint Dyer will direct Olivier winner Terera in the Shakespeare classic, marking the first time a Black man has directed the tragedy at a major British theatre.
