EOTO: Porgy and Bess

     "Porgy and Bess" was an opera that originated its performances in Boston in September of 1935 before moving its performances to Broadway in New York City in October of  1935. "Porgy and Bess" was considered the first great American opera. "Porgy and Bess" portrays a black disabled man named Porgy who helps a black women named Bess seek refuge after he boyfriend flees from the scene of a murder and leaves her behind.  

   "Porgy and Bess" is the first African American lead opera and set a standard for performances on and off Broadway going into the future. The writer of "Porgy and Bess", George Gershwin, had originally casted an all African American cast, which took months to compile due to needing to find African Americans who could sing very well. After a difficult process of casting, various producers did not want to have African Americans on stage in the spot light, so they tried to make Gershwin cast only white singers and have them dress in blackface. Gershwin fought against this and was then able to keep his all African American cast. 

    "Porgy and Bess" is produced during a time where racial segregation is strictly enforced in the south. The opera is seen as groundbreaking in a sense of having an all African American cast even during times of strict segregation. "Porgy and Bess" also was criticized by many African Americans who did not like the way African Americans were portrayed in the opera. Many people did not like the insight to the stereotypical lives that African Americans were seen to be living, meaning the violence, drinking and the drugs seen in the opera.

    "Porgy and Bess" also was able to humanize African Americans in a way that had not been done before. Gershwin was able to give special opportunities to the performers who were often given back stage roles in regular mainstream theater, using this as a subtle way to rebel against segregation.  

    The opera of "Porgy and Bess" became the first time we see the lack of segregation in the world of the theater. Many people had a problem with Gershwin casting an all African American lead opera due to the harsh segregation laws that were being enforced.  Being that the original performances of "Porgy and Bess" were being held in Boston, the harsh segregation laws made it harder for Gershwin to support an all African American cast.

     "Porgy and Bess" holds the distinction of being the first opera with an all African American lead cast, setting a groundbreaking precedent for future performances both on and off Broadway. George Gershwin insisting on an entirely African American cast, which was very far from a social norm, forced people to accept that segregation was starting to fail. Gershwin being able to defy social norms and put up a slight fight against segregation in the opera is seen as a strong resistance for that time.