New PORGY AND BESS Movie

[RainbowJude]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:39pm

Hopefully this will turn out wonderfully. It all depends on what they do with it though, doesn't it?


PORGY AND BESS: Gershwins’ Opera Gets Film Update

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:47pm

A cast member from the show last year too me that Beyonce had done everything but sign the contract for this. I'm praying that since so much time has passed, it's no longer the case.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 1:19pm

This would be such a great project for Anika Noni Rose though obviously I imagine it's between Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. We'll see if this happens though, the A STAR IS BORN remake was announced like 4 years ago and it hasn't gotten off the ground yet, MY FAIR LADY spent a similar amount of time in development hell until it just fell apart.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 2:03pm

I wouldn't expect to see Beyonce do this. Then again it all depends on the time frame but she's pretty busy with this world tour and a new album coming out.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:22pm

I'm not very familiar with the musical, but isn't the main character supposed to be a soprano? Beyonce can have Aida and A star is born, but I think this needs a stronger actress. Let Audra do this one.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:25pm

Well, there was this

[OrdinaryJukebox]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:30pm

Good God don't go to Beyonce or Jennifer Hudson. Audra, Audra, Audra, Audra, Audra!!!!!!!

[all that jazz]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:40pm

Wow, Wynbish that actually did happen... I thought it was a joke.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:45pm

It did happen AND was a joke

[BeadleDeedle]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:46pm

You know durned well that if a Porgy and Bess movie were to come out in this day and age, that role would not be sung by a classical soprano. Studio execs and modern audiences would just not be able to handle that.

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:47pm

Porgy has been treated as opera and as conventional jazz based musical theatre. I expect the movie would go with the latter.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 7:52pm

Beadle, you're right, Hollywood's never been fond of sopranos anyway. I hate when they lower keys for the screen, and I'm not a big fan of the mezzo trend.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:53pm

The article clearly states they are trying to make it accessible to contemporary audiences, translation: the first thing that will be gone are any parts of it that make it sound like what mainstream audiences think an "opera" is. I wonder if maybe they'll try to audition other singers, people like Alicia Keys, but I imagine Jennifer Hudson's people will pursue this one hard, her film career needs the boost.

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:42am

Before anyone bitches about the de-opera-ization, let's not forget that this has been done many times- the Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, the past Terrence McNally production, etc.

The jazz and theatre pedigree on Porgy is almost as strong as its opera one.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 10:32am

Well if its not Opera, then Jennifer should do it, she'd be spectacular!

[all that jazz]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 10:32am

Well if its not Opera, then Jennifer should do it, she'd be spectacular!