This is a rare piece of sheet music for the song “BESS YOU IS MY WOMAN NOW” from the
Original Broadway production of the GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN and DU BOSE HEYWARD American Folk Opera “PORGY AND BESS” which played the Alvin Theatre in New York City. (The musical opened October 10th, 1935 at the Alvin Theatre and closed January 25th, 1936, running for a disappointing 124 performances.) ….. Despite its early demise, this Gershwin masterwork remains one of the greatest of all American musicals and musical theatre scores. It wasn’t until years later, after GEORGE GERSHWIN’s untimely death that the work received the acclamation it deserved. The Original Broadway principals included TODD DUNCAN as “Porgy”, ANNE BROWN as “Bess”, JOHN W. BUBBLES as “Sportin’ Life” and WARREN COLEMAN as “Crown”. Others in the cast included HELEN DOWDY, FORD L. BUCK, ABBIE MITCHELL, EDWARD MATTHEWS, GEORGETTE HARVEY, OLIVE BALL, RUBY ELZY, HENRY DAVIS, JACK CARR, GUS SIMONS, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, HAROLD WOOLF, BURTON McEVILLY, JOHN GARTH, J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON, GEORGE LESSEY, RAY YEATES, GEORGE CARLETON and THE EVA JESSYE CHOIR ….. CREDITS: Book by DU BOSE HEYWARD founded on the play “Porgy” by DU BOSE and DOROTHY HEYWARD; Music by GEORGE GERSHWIN (“Girl Crazy”, “Lady, Be Good!”, “Oh, Kay!”, “Funny Face”, “Rosalie”, “Of Thee I Sing”, “Porgy and Bess”, “George White’s Scandals”); Lyrics by DU BOSE HEYWARD and IRA GERSHWIN; Sets designed by SERGEI SOUDEIKINE; Costumes supervised by JEAN TATE; Directed by ROUBEN MAMOULIAN; Produced by BLEVINS DAVIS and ROBERT BREEN by arrangement with THE THEATRE GUILD
….. DETAILS: The oversized ten page piece of sheet music measures 9″ X 12″ inches and is copyrighted 1935 by Gershwin Publishing Corporation, New York and printed by Chappell and Company, Inc., New York ….. CONDITION: With the exception of minor edge wear, this rare piece of sheet music is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.