Porgy
Encyclopedia
Porgy is a novel written by American author DuBose Heyward
in 1925, as well as a play Dorothy Heyward
helped him to write which debuted in 1927.
Even before the play had been fully written, Heyward was in discussions with George Gershwin
for an operatic version of his novel, which debuted in 1935 as Porgy and Bess
(renamed to distinguish it from the play).
in the 1920s. The character was based on the real-life Charlestonian Samuel Smalls. The novel features passages which have the characters speaking in the Gullah language
.
and Ira Gershwin
, along with DuBose Heyward, based the libretto of their opera version, Porgy and Bess
, not on the original novel, but on the play. (In the novel, after Bess leaves with "Sportin' Life" and goes to New York, Porgy merely returns from jail, disillusioned, to being a beggar. At the end of both the play and the opera, he begins a journey to New York, hoping to find her.)
Porgy debuted on Broadway at the Guild Theatre (today's August Wilson Theatre
) on October 10, 1927 and ran for 367 performances. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian
. In 1928 Bibo, Bloedon & Lang, Inc. (New York) secured the international copyright for 11 "Spiritual Songs" Arranged and Edited by George Shackley. These can be found in a "Souvenir Edition" published by Bibo-Lang, Inc. Music Publishers, 1595 Broadway, NY. They are from The Theatre Guild Production "Porgy" a Folk Play by Dubose & Dorothy Heyward. Included on the cover is art work by Simonson.
A 1929 revival was less successful, opening on September 13, 1929, and closing one month later after only 34 performances at the Martin Beck Theatre (today's Al Hirschfeld Theatre
).
DuBose Heyward
Edwin DuBose Heyward was a white American author best known for his 1925 novel Porgy. This novel was the basis for the play by the same name and, in turn, the opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin.-Life and career:Heyward was born in 1885 in Charleston, South Carolina and was a...
in 1925, as well as a play Dorothy Heyward
Dorothy Heyward
Dorothy Heyward Dorothy Heyward Dorothy Heyward (née Kuhns, (June 6, 1890 – November 19, 1961) was an American playwright.Born in Wooster, Ohio, she was married to the author DuBose Heyward, and adapted several of his scripts for the stage, including Porgy.-External links:...
helped him to write which debuted in 1927.
Even before the play had been fully written, Heyward was in discussions with George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
for an operatic version of his novel, which debuted in 1935 as Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward...
(renamed to distinguish it from the play).
Novel
The novel tells the story of Porgy, a crippled street-beggar in the black tenements of Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in the 1920s. The character was based on the real-life Charlestonian Samuel Smalls. The novel features passages which have the characters speaking in the Gullah language
Gullah language
Gullah is a creole language spoken by the Gullah people , an African American population living on the Sea Islands and the coastal region of the U.S...
.
Play
DuBose Heyward's wife, Dorothy Heyward, began working on a staged adaptation of her husband's novel soon after it was published in 1925. Some elements of the storyline in the play differ considerably from those in the novel. GeorgeGeorge Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
and Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
, along with DuBose Heyward, based the libretto of their opera version, Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward...
, not on the original novel, but on the play. (In the novel, after Bess leaves with "Sportin' Life" and goes to New York, Porgy merely returns from jail, disillusioned, to being a beggar. At the end of both the play and the opera, he begins a journey to New York, hoping to find her.)
Porgy debuted on Broadway at the Guild Theatre (today's August Wilson Theatre
August Wilson Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre, located at 245 West 52nd Street in New York City, is a Broadway theatre.Designed by architects C. Howard Crane and Kenneth Franzheim and constructed by the Theatre Guild, it opened as the Guild Theatre in 1925 with a revival of George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and...
) on October 10, 1927 and ran for 367 performances. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian
Rouben Mamoulian
Rouben Mamoulian was an Armenian-American film and theatre director.-Biography:Born in Tbilisi, Georgia to an Armenian family, Rouben relocated to England and started directing plays in London in 1922...
. In 1928 Bibo, Bloedon & Lang, Inc. (New York) secured the international copyright for 11 "Spiritual Songs" Arranged and Edited by George Shackley. These can be found in a "Souvenir Edition" published by Bibo-Lang, Inc. Music Publishers, 1595 Broadway, NY. They are from The Theatre Guild Production "Porgy" a Folk Play by Dubose & Dorothy Heyward. Included on the cover is art work by Simonson.
A 1929 revival was less successful, opening on September 13, 1929, and closing one month later after only 34 performances at the Martin Beck Theatre (today's Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 302 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh for vaudeville promoter Martin Beck, the theatre opened as the Martin Beck Theatre with a production of Madame Pompadour on November 11, 1924. It...
).
Novel
- Full text of Porgy plus criticism and commentary by Kendra Hamilton, hosted by the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...