Charles Randolph-Wright to Direct National Tour of Porgy and Bess

Charles Randolph-Wright’s new staging of George and Ira Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess will launch a 26-city national tour from Van Wert, OH on February 18. Pacien Mazzagatti will provide musical direction for the production.

The tour is scheduled to continue through June 13, and will also visit such cities as Columbus, OH; Cincinnati, OH; Fort Worth, TX; San Antonio, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Sarasota, FL; New Brunswick, NJ; Charlotte, NC; Boston, MA; and Hartford, CT

The company will feature Leonard Rowe (Porgy), Donita Volkwijn/Kishna Davis (Bess), Reyna Carguill (Serena), Phillip Boykin (Crown), Reggie Whitehead (Sportin’ Life), Eric McKeever (Jake), Chazmond Peacock (Mingo), Taiwan Norris (Robbins), Sequina DuBose (Clara), Johnny Lee Green (Peter), Natalya Simone Thomas (Lily), Ambe Williams (Annie), Mari-Yan Pringle (Strawberry Woman), Patrick Blackwell (Jim), Darnell Ishmel (Undertaker), Sean T. Miller (Nelson/Crab Man), Matthew Gamble (Funeral Solo Baritone), and Taleesha Janine Scott (Funeral Solo Soprano).

The creative team will include John Farrell (scenic design), Ildikó Márta Debreczeni (costume design), and Susan Roth (lighting design).