Last staged by The Dallas Opera in 1995, Porgy & Bess (by George Gershwin, Dubose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin) is an extraordinary collaborative effort that includes scenery and costumes created specifically for this production by half a dozen opera companies from Seattle to Houston.

The artistic collaboration is reflected onstage, as well, with a phenomenal African-American ensemble cast staged by Broadway veteran Hope Clark and headed by Mr. Hawkins (who recently earned a rave review from New York Times Classical Music Critic Anthony Tommasini for his "powerful singing" that "nearly stole the show all evening.") and Ms. Mahajan (praised by Music Critic Tim Smith of The Washington Post for singing this role with "brilliance and ardor").