· Take a listen to @TheNicolaHughes and @RufusBonds on @BBCFrontRow talking about #OATporgyandbess http://tinyurl.com/nlforhb (i/v from 19:22)
Porgy, a crippled beggar, is devoted to taming wild Bess and saving her from a life of ruin. Yet new beginnings give way to temptation as Bess is haunted by the demons of her past.
Directed by Timothy Sheader, this musical masterpiece includes ‘I Got Plenty of Nothing’, ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’, ‘I Loves You Porgy’ and the poignantly beautiful ‘Summertime’, an icon of the Great American Songbook.
Drawing on talent from both sides of the Atlantic Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes take the title roles. Rufus received a Drama Desk nomination for the original US production of Parade, and Nicola revisits the role of Bess following her Olivier Award nominated performance in Trevor Nunn’s 2006 production. Phillip Boykin reprises the role of Crown for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the 2012 Broadway production. Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke also joins the cast as Mariah.
Rufus Bonds Jr, Phillip Boykin and Cedric Neal are appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.
