photo by Michael J. Lutch

The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, opens at Shea’s Performing Arts Center on Tuesday for an eight-performance run. Brimming with familiar Gershwin melodies, the show tells the story of Bess, a beautiful woman who struggles to break free from a past so scandalous that only Porgy, a lonely disabled man, is willing to help and protect her. Her violent former lover, Crown, and her seductive drug connection, Sporting Life, alternately threaten and tempt her back to her former life. This is a gorgeous production and a rare opportunity to hear this glorious score with a full orchestra and professional voices.