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The Opera House is the second-largest theater in the Center, with 2,300 seats. It was designed for ballet, opera, and musical theater. Over the years, the Opera House has welcomed dozens of the world's great dance and opera companies and has hosted some of the most important artistic events of the last quarter century. With its distinctive red and gold silk curtain, a gift from Japan, and the exquisite Lobmeyr crystal chandelier, a gift from Austria, the Opera House makes an elegant setting for the annual Kennedy Center Honors, the nations highest award for lifetime achievement in the arts.

Coming to the Opera House :

Image for Washington National Opera: <i>Porgy and Bess</i>

Washington National Opera: Porgy and Bess

Mar 20 - Apr 3, 2010
Opera House
Running Time: Approx. 3 hours
Tickets and Schedule

Description:

Porgy and Bess
By George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin

WNO's critically acclaimed production, which received rave reviews in Los Angeles and Chicago, is back! George Gershwin miraculously melded classical music, popular song, jazz, blues, and spirituals into iconic American songs like "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'" and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." This quintessential American masterpiece follows the story of a crippled beggar and the headstrong woman he loves.

Performed in English with English supertitles.
The performance runs approximately 3 hours, with one 25-minute intermission.
Supertitles may not be visible from the rear of the orchestra; please contact WNO Audiences Services at (202) 295-2400 for further information.

O-Zone Lecture: Free pre-performance lecture in the Opera House - Thu., Mar. 25 at 6:15 p.m.
Patrons must present a ticket or stub from any performance of this production.

Artist Q&A follows the matinee performance: Sun., Mar. 21.

Note: The public onsale date for the following four performances is Mon., Feb. 1, 2010
        --Sun., Mar. 28 mat; Tue., Mar 30; Thu., Apr. 1; Sat., Apr. 3

Cast/Creative Team
Porgy   Eric Owens (Mar. 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, Apr.1);
              Lester Lynch (Mar. 21mat, 23, 26, 28mat, 31, Apr.3)
Bess   Morenike Fadayomi (Mar. 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, Apr.1);
            Indira Mahajan (Mar. 21mat, 23, 26, 28mat, 31, Apr.3)
Crown   Terry Cook (Mar. 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, Apr.1, 3);
               Ashley Howard Wilkinson (Mar. 21mat, 23, 26, 28mat, 31)
Sportin' Life   Jermaine Smith (Mar. 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, Apr. 1);
                         Larry Hylton (Mar. 21mat, 23, 26, , 28mat, 31, Apr. 3)
Clara   Alyson Cambridge
Jake   Eric Greene (Mar 20, 22, 25);
            Darren Stokes (Mar. 21mat, 23, 26, 27, 28mat, 30, 31, Apr.1, 3)
Serena   Lisa Daltirus (Mar. 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, Apr.1);
                Karen Slack (Mar. 21mat, 23, 26, 28mat, 31, Apr.3)

Conductor -- John Mauceri
Director -- Francesca Zambello
Associate Director -- Rita D'Angelo Tikador
Set Design -- Peter J. Davison
Costume Design -- Paul Tazewell
Lighting Design -- Mark McCullough
Choreographer -- Jennifer Ford