New York (Top40 Charts/ Orchestra Miami) - To celebrate the 75th anniversary of
George Gershwin's enduring masterpiece, a new production of Porgy and Bess starring Miami native tenor Reggie Whitehead as Sportin' Life, soprano Kishna Davis as Bess, baritone Patrick Blackwell as Porgy, and bass-baritone Phillip Boykin as Crown, takes the stage in Miami on March 14th.
Porgy and Bess, produced with the full approval of the Gershwin Estate by veteran opera producer Michael Capasso (General Director of New York's vibrant Dicapo Opera) in association with Willette Murphy Klausner ("Three Mo' Tenors"), features a stellar cast and live orchestra and will be directed by renowned American Charles Randolph-Wright (writer and director of the film "Mama I Want to Sing," to be released February 2010). The production showcases brand-new sets designed by John Farrell, costumes by Ildiko Marta Debreczeni, and lighting by Susan Roth. Orchestra Miami, Miami's professional orchestra, will provide the lush accompaniment with Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi conducting.
Tenor Reggie Whitehead recently performed the role of Sportin' Life during a 2008 production of Porgy and Bess which toured St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as cities in Poland, Greece, Estonia, and Latvia. Mr. Whitehead has also been heard in productions of Nunsense-Men, Ain't Misebehavin, Purlie, A Chorus Line, La Cage aux Folles, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Pippin. Mr. Whitehead received the South Florida Theater Carbonell Award for his performances in The Full Monty, Ken in Smokey Joe's Cafe and Zombie Prom.
Soprano Kishna Davis (Bess) made her New York City Opera debut singing the role of Bess in their production of Porgy and Bess, conducted by John DeMain, a role she has repeated with the Philadelphia Opera, Virginia Opera and Indianapolis Opera companies as well as in Rome, Sienna and Warsaw.
Bass-baritone Patrick Blackwell (Porgy) debuted with Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1997 as Burnah in the World Premiere of Anthony Davis' Amistad. Other roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago include: Henry Davis (Street Scene), Cal (Regina), and the Duke of Verona (Romeo et Juliette). Patrick studied on full scholarship with Enrico DiGiuseppe at the Juilliard School of Music.
Baritone Phillip Boykin has performed with the Connecticut Opera Express, Connecticut Concert Opera, Hartford Symphony, Bristol Symphony, New Britain Symphony, Cleveland Pops, and Greenville Symphony. He recently performed in the European tour of Porgy and Bess and was a featured soloist in the "Spiritual Singers of Harlem" annual tour in Asia.
