Porgy & Bess
Saturday February 26, 2011
Tuesday March 01, 2011
Friday March 04, 2011
Sunday March 06, 2011
Single Tickets go ON SALE September 16!
In
Charleston, the struggling occupants of Catfish Row live a life of hard
work and tough times, yearning for a better life and great love. Get to
know Porgy, Bess, Crown, Sportin' Life and Serena--the amazing
character in this quintessential American opera. Composed by the
forever-young George Gershwin,
Porgy &
Bess features Opera's most famous lullaby,
"summertime".
Approximate Running Time: 3 hours
Cobb Energy Centre (map)
Cast & Credits
| Porgy |
Michael Redding*
|
| Bess |
Laquita Mitchell*
|
| Crown |
Eric Greene*
|
| Clara |
NaGuanda Nobles*
|
Sportin' Life
|
Chauncy Packer
|
Serena
|
Aundi Marie Moore
|
 |
| Conductor |
Keith Lockhart
|
| Director |
Larry Marshall
|
| Set Design |
Richard Kagey |
| Costumes |
TBA |
| Lighting |
TBA |
| Chorus Master |
Walter Huff |
|
With The Atlanta Opera
Orchestra & Chorus
*Denotes company debut. All cast subject to change without notice.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Michael
Redding
|
Laquita
Mitchell
|
Eric
Greene
|
NaGuanda
Nobles
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Chauncey
Packer
|
Keith
Lockhart
|
Aundi Marie
Moore
|
Walter
Huff
|
Synopsis
Act I
In Catfish Row, Crown and Robbins scuffle during a crap game. Crown kills Robbins and flees, leaving his girlfriend, Bess, prey to Sportin’ Life, a drug pusher, who tries to convince Bess to run away with him to New York. Alone and shunned by all, Bess finds solace in the arms of Porgy, a kind crippled man. Porgy, Bess, and the neighbors gather in Serena’s home to pray over Robbins’ casket. Serena mourns her loss. After being bullied by white policemen, the people collect money for Robbins’ burial. When a buzzard flies over Catfish Row, the superstitious Porgy fears for his new-found happiness with Bess. Sportin’ Life pressures Bess again, but Porgy frightens him away. The people make preparations for a picnic on nearby Kittiwah Island. Bess wants to stay behind with Porgy, but he urges her to go and have a good time.
Act II
At the picnic, Crown, who has been hiding on the island, approaches Bess when she is alone and urges her to stay with him. A week later, Bess returns to Porgy, sick and terrified that Crown will come after her. Porgy forgives Bess and promises his protection. A storm rages. While the women gather in Serena’s home to pray for their men, who are out fishing, Crown returns. When Clara discovers that her husband Jake’s boat has capsized, she and Crown set out to rescue him. Clara and Jake have both perished in the storm, but Crown has survived. Injured, he returns for Bess, but Porgy kills him. The police take Porgy away to jail, leaving Bess alone. With empty promises and drugs, Sportin’ Life finally convinces Bess to run away with him to New York. Released for lack of evidence, Porgy returns home. He calls for Bess, in vain. When neighbors report that Bess has gone to New York with Sportin’ Life, Porgy sets off for New York to look for her.
