GROUND BREAKING MUSICALS

This course will examine two groundbreaking American musicals. Show Boat was written by
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II in 1927, based on Edna Ferber’s sprawling novel. This
show has undergone various transformations, with recent productions making choices from
the wealth of material to create a cohesive piece of musical theater. Porgy and Bess was
written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1935, after Dubose Heyward’s source material.
Premiered on Broadway, Porgy and Bess was conceived as an opera, and has crossed back and
forth between musical theater and opera. The Metropolitan Opera opened the current season
with Porgy and Bess, and this course will act as background for the HD performance on
February 1.

About The Lecturer

Marc Courtade

Marc Courtade is Executive Director of the Huntington Arts Council, which promotes artists and the
Arts throughout Long Island. He is a specialist in musical theatre and opera, as well as an avid performer
who has appeared in numerous productions both locally and in the Tri-State Area. Professor Courtade
has additionally served as an adjunct professor teaching Arts Management at the college level.