Tony-Winning Revival of Porgy and Bess, Starring Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis, to Close Earlier Than Expected

The Tony-winning Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess will end its limited run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre a week earlier than expected. The show, which was initially set to run through September 30, will now close on September 23. Directed by Diane Paulus and starring 2012 Tony winner Audra McDonald and Tony nominee Norm Lewis, Porgy and Bess will have played 322 performances at the time of its closing, making it the longest-running production of Porgy and Bess to ever play on Broadway.

Set in Charleston’s fabled Catfish Row, Porgy and Bess follows beautiful Bess (McDonald) as she struggles to break free from her scandalous past, and the crippled but courageous Porgy (Lewis). The revised production of the classic Gershwin opera features the famous songs "Summertime," "Bess, You Is My Woman Now," "I Got Plenty o' Nothin" and "It Ain't Necessarily So."

Porgy and Bess began previews on December 17, 2011 and officially opened on January 12. In addition to McDonald and Lewis the cast also features Tony nominee David Alan Grier, Joshua Henry, Philip Boykin, Nikki Renee Daniels, Chistopher Innvar, Bryonha Marie Parham and NaTasha Yvette Williams.