Audra McDonald In Talks for Porgy and Bess at American Repertory Theater

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 9:40am

I've always wanted to hear her sing this score and the possibility of a New York production makes me even happier!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/147589-Audra-McDonald-In-Talks-for-Porgy-and-Bess-at-American-Repertory-Theater

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 10:53am

PLEASE GOD YES

[musikman]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 3:37pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6LDh7cO1g


Siiiiiiigh.

Please let this happen.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 3:49pm

If she plays Bess, she wouldn't be singing "My Man's Gone Now." Serena sings that.

This part of the article arouses equal parts of curiosity and dread:

...the new production, which is being re-imagined...as a musical for contemporary audiences.

"The Gershwin and Heyward estates have given us the charge to create a version of Porgy and Bess that will have a unique identity as a musical," Paulus said in a previous statement. "I am delighted to be working with Suzan-Lori Parks on making the characters in the story more fully realized. With one of the most incredible scores ever written, we want to bring Porgy and Bess to life on the musical stage in a way that feels essential, immediate, and passionate."

Parks added, "Our approach is fresh and respectful; we're working to retain all the best-loved elements of the original while crafting a piece that speaks to contemporary audiences." Murray stated that the new production would move the work "forward on its continuum, re-envisioning it for a modern perspective."

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 3:55pm

I don't want Suzan Lori Parks anywhere near this masterpiece.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 3:56pm

Damn that Diane Paulus! There she goes again, doing shows that people will actually want to go to see, instead of sticking to elitist, intellectual claptrap. How dare she?

[Q]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 4:00pm

"elitist, intellectual claptrap"

So that's what PORGY AND BESS is?

*sigh*

[Jon]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 7:28pm

You missed my point entirely. P&B is NOT elitist, intellectual crap. It is a popular that people actually want to see. The folks who have supported A.R.T. for many years have complained recently that Diane Paulus is doing too much "popular" stuff, and not enough "risky" or "experiemntal" work. Meanwhile, ticket sales are up more than 50% under her direction.

[Q]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 7:39pm

Gotcha - you're right, I missed your point. My bad.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 10:05pm

I have to say that whenever I have seen this work done by a theatre company, or anybody who feels it needs to be trimmed or edited, it somehow always seems to end up feeling slower and longer. Give me a grand opera production of this piece with a full orchestra, giant chorus, and every glorious note Gershwin wrote.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 11:24pm

I think the critiques of Paulus at the ART are more complicated than that.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 11:27pm

I'd like to see Quentin Earl Darrington do this with her.

[BosBroad]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 12:06am

AEA -

Chicago Lyric Opera is doing a full version next season, possibly around the same time at the ART.

I'm not opposed to updating musicals or operas, per se, but it seems that a musical written as a social commentary on a particular time probably shouldn't have it's time period shifted. But... maybe there's something I'm missing or don't understand (not uncommon).

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 7:25pm

Audra confirmed her involvement in this at the opening night party for Priscilla.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/155719/four-time-tony-winner-audra-mcdonald-eyes-return-to-broadway-in-porgy-and-bess/

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 8:39pm

Audra McDonald is a goddess - I don't care what she's in, I will go see her.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 10:54pm

I'm probably going to be burned at the stake for suggesting this, but since Audra is doing Bess, what about Brian Stokes Mitchell for Porgy? Two great voices in their prime who will do justice to this marvelous score.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 3:29pm

... why would you be burned at the stake for saying that? Brian is a brilliant performer.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 10:51am

I've wanted a Stokes/McDonald PORGY & BESS for years now. If the two of them teamed up for that show, it would be a theatrical wet dream.

[Melodicluvangel]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 3:15pm

I second that....and oh what a dream it would be!