This month the Ritz is presenting Porgy and Bess.
Porgy and Bess is a folk opera by George Gershwin that tells the story of Porgy, a disabled beggar, and Bess, a troubled woman, as they struggle to find love and stability amid violence and hardship in 1920s Charleston.
The opera is set in Catfish Row, a poor African-American neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina, during the 1920s.
It explores themes of love, community, addiction, and survival, blending opera with jazz, blues, gospel, and folk influences.
Iconic songs such as "Summertime", "I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’", and "I Loves You, Porgy" are central to the story and have become widely recognized outside the opera world.
The opera was groundbreaking for featuring a cast of classically trained African-American singers and remains one of the most performed American operas.
If you're interested, contact Marguerite for any available tickets.
