Porgy and Bess Title

The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess®

by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin Opera in Three Acts First performed in Boston on September 30, 1935

January 22, 24, 26 and 28, 2023 • Belk Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina This production is made possible by

THE CAST

Porgy Bess Sportin’ Life Serena Crown* Clara Maria

Kenneth Overton Nicole Cabell* Victor Ryan Robertson Michelle Johnson Donovan Singletary Sequina DuBose Lucia Bradford

Jake Kendrick Williams** Peter/Honeyman Johnnie Felder** Robbins/Nelson Elliott Brown** Annie/Strawberry Woman Kimberly Butler Jim George Washington III Lawyer Frazier Sean Buggs Undertaker Jarvis Miller Crabman Jared Payton Mingo Ernest Jackson Lily Brittany Currie Detective Noah Rice Coroner Dan Boye Policeman

Greg Lowery CREATIVE TEAM

Conductor James Meena Director Dennis Robinson Lighting Design Michael Baumgarten Head of Music Preparation Emily Jarrell Urbanek Scenery Designer John Farrell Costume Designer Ildikó Debreczeni Wig and Make-up Design Martha Ruskai Technical Director Wilbert Ferguson Fight coordinator Dale Girard

*Opera Carolina debut **Opera Carolina Resident Company Member

Members of the Opera Carolina Chorus The Charlotte Symphony

This production of Porgy and Bess is a collaboration with NC Opera, Eric Mitchko, General Director

The worldwide copyrights in the music of George and Ira Gershwin® for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family. GERSHWIN is a registered trademark and service mark of Gershwin Enterprises. PORGY AND BESS is a registered trademark and service mark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises.

Opera Carolina recognizes the following new Gold Circle Members of The Verdi Society

Mary Margaret and Josh Beaver, Nancy Brand and William Freeman, Kelly and Brian Chambers, Beth and Michael Clifton, Liz Hilliard and Lee Kennelly, Emily and William Oliver, Mary Margaret and Fritz Porter, Dr. Gwen Reichbach and Michael Fonzo, Liz and Dave Shuford, Charlotte and John Wickham, Aundrea and Stephen Wilson.