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ALS signed “Ira,” two pages, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, September 15 [1952]. Handwritten letter from Gershwin to playwright Dorothy Heyward, who co-authored the play Porgy (1927) with her husband DuBose Heyward, adapting it from his novel of the same name. The letter, in full: “‘Porgy & Bess’ seems to have been the biggest thing to hit Vienna since the Congress of. Am delighted you can make the London opening. Wish Lee and I could be there with you but I’m just not up to a European trip this year. Unimportant but amazing things have been happening to me physically and now that I’ve finished my work on a new Metro picture I’m hoping to take it easy for a few months. I do hope you’ll write me from London after the show opens there.
Re Doubleday and permission to publish lyrics – this is one matter that Alexandre has nothing to do with. Max Dreyfus, the publisher, is the only one with whom any arrangements can be made. But Max is a tough nut to crack. He has said more than once that ‘P & B’ is the most important musical copyright in America and he certainly acts as if he believes that pronouncement 100%.
Five or six years ago when Simon and Schuster were preparing ‘A Treasury of Grand Opera’ they wanted to include ‘P & B’ along with 'Lohengrin,’ ‘Carmen,’ ‘Faust,’ ‘Aida,’ ‘Pagliacci,’ ‘La Traviata,’ and ‘Don Giovanni’ — seven pretty respectable works. S & S got nowhere with Dreyfus so they wrote to me. I then wrote to Max saying what an honor it would be to have excerpts from ‘P & B’ side by side these world-famous operas – but to no avail. I wouldn’t imagine that he is in a less possessive mood today but there’s no reason Doubleday oughtn’t get in touch with Max to find out. Lee joins me in sending you lots of love and we know you’re going to have a simply wonderful time.” Gershwin adds his first initial after a quick postscript: “Don’t forget to write – yes? I.” In fine condition. Porgy and Bess first premiered in London on October 9, 1952, at the Stoll Theatre. This production was a revival that aimed to restore much of the original musical material, which had been cut in earlier versions, particularly the recitatives.
The recipient, Dorothy Heyward (1890-1961), had a long and fruitful career as a playwright, one highlighted by her co-authorship of the 1927 play Porgy with her husband, DuBose, whose novel of the same name served as the source material. It was while DuBose was writing the novel that Heyward, who saw dramatic possibilities in the story, convinced him that it would work as a play. They collaborated to adapt it to the stage and made sure the play's company would be cast with only black actors, a controversial decision during its time, as black characters were almost always portrayed by white actors in blackface. Nonetheless, the play was a success, and the 1927 Theatre Guild production ran for 367 performances. Their play was later adapted as the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. This was adapted as an award-winning film by the same name in 1959.
Accompanied by a scarce original French-language program for a production of Porgy and Bess, dating to the play’s second tour of Europe. The inside front cover bears a printed letter from American President Dwight D. Eisenhower (with facsimile signature) from March 30, 1953, which reads: “I have just learned with pleasure that the ‘Porgy and Bess’ Company is going to make a second tour of Europe. Naturally I have heard reports of the extraordinary success that met your first trip. I cannot emphasize too strongly how serious and enduring the value of this work seems to me. You and your distinguished company are making a real contribution to the kind of understanding between peoples that alone can bring mutual respect and trust. You are, in a real sense, ambassadors of the arts. I wish you and your company the continuing success so deserved by your striking achievements.”
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