Porgy and Bess

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Composer
George Gershwin
Librettists
DuBose Heyward

and

Ira Gershwin
Based On

adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play Porgy, itself an adaptation of DuBose Heyward's 1925 novel Porgy

Company
San Francisco Opera Association
Location
San Francisco, CA
Venue
War Memorial Opera House
Season
1976-1977
Language
English

Creative/Crew

Musical Director and Chorus Master
John DeMain
Production directed by
Jack O'Brien
Principal conductor
C. William Harwood
Sets
Robert Randolph
Costumes
Nancy Potts
Lighting Designer
Gilbert V. Hemsley, Jr.
Additional Kittiwah design
John Rothgeb
Choreographer and assistant director
Mabel Robinson
Production Stage Manager/Asst. Director
Helaine Head
Assistant Conductor
Paul Connelly
Musical Preparation
George Darden

Cast

Show Dates

Time and Place

Charleston, South Carolina, 1935

Scenes

Act I, Scene 1 -- Catfish Row, a summer evening
Scene 2 -- Serena's Room, the following night
Scene 3 -- Catfish Row, a month later
Scene 4 -- Kittiwah Island, late afternoon
There will be a 15 minute intermission
Act II, Scene 1 -- Catfish Row, before dawn, a week later
Scene 2 -- Serena's Room, the dawn of the following day
Scene 3 -- Catfish Row, the next night
Scene 4 -- Catfish Row, the next afternoon
Scene 5 -- Catfish Row, a week later

Acknowledgements

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
Kurt Herbert Adler, general director
presents the
SHERWIN M. GOLDMAN
and
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
production of

Legacy Commission

Lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin

Notes

1977 Summer

Presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.

The producers wish to express their gratitude to Louis Aborn,
Mr.and Mrs. Ira Gershwin, Jennifer Heyward, Robert Kimball,
Kay Swift, and Mrs. Edgar Tobin for their assistance, advice, and confidence.

ENSEMBLE
Steven Alex-Cole
Vanessa Ayers
Shirley Baines
Earl Baker
Kenneth Bates
Clyde Battles
Raymond Bazemore
Barbara Buck
Loretta Giles
Earl Grandison
Alma Johnson
Janet Jordan
Donald Walter Kase
Christal Lockley
Hartwell Mace
Barbara Mahajan
Diane Matthew
Patricia McDermott
Margery A. Medina
Diane Randolph
Dwight Ransom
Ronald E. Richardson
Rodrick Ross
Gwendolyn Shepherd
Michael Smartt
Jubilant Sykes
Mervin Wallace
Daniel Washington
Wardell Woodard
Barbara Louise Young

UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies never substitute for listed players unless a
specific announcement is made at the time of performance
Porgy -- Hartwell Mace, Daniel Washington
Bess -- Diane Randolph
Crown -- Michael Smartt
Clara -- Alma Johnson
Maria -- Vanessa Ayers
Sportin' Life -- Steven Alex-Cole
Robbins -- Ronald E. Richardson
Peter -- Kenneth Bates
Frazier -- Earl Grandison
Annie -- Barbara Louise Young
Lily -- Loretta Giles
Strawberry Woman -- Barbara Buck, Janet Jordan
Undertaker -- Earl Grandison, Donald Walter Kase
Jim -- Donald Walter Kase
Detective and Coroner -- William Gammon

SHERWIN M. GOLDMAN PRODUCTIONS, INC.
President -- Sherwin M. Goldman
Assistant Producer & Press Representative -- Virginia Hymes
General Managers -- McCann & Nugent
Treasurer -- Ronald J. Goldman
General Counsel -- Harvey Horowitz, Squadron Elenoff, Plesent & Lehrer
Travel Arrangements -- Jay Lazarus, Troubadour Travel, Ltd.
Producer's Staff -- Fredda Stoll, Richard-Jay-Alexander
Management Associate -- Veronica Claypool
Tour Arrangements == Podium Management Associates

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STAFF
General Director -- David Gockley
Associate Director -- Robert Buckley
Principal Conductor -- John DeMain
Development Director -- John F. Mastroianni
Director of Marketing -- Margaret Genovese
Production Coordinator -- M. Jane Weaver

PORGY AND BESS COMPANY STAFF
Company Manager -- Mario De Maria
Production Stage Manager -- Helaine Head
Stage Manager -- Sally McCravey
Assistant Stage Manager -- William Gammon
Vocal Contractor and Coordinator -- E.L.B. Artists Enterprises, Inc., Earl Baker
Assistant to the Company Manager -- Tommy Potts
Production Carpenter -- Elb