Porgy and Bess

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DANREST

tragedy.

Porgy and Bess

reminds us of Aristotle’s

goal of a tragedy: the audience must experience

a catharsis, must be able to experience pity and

fear; must be able to pity the fallen hero (whether

Porgy or Bess or both) and fear they do not

have to suffer the same fate. With a spectacular

musical score, Gershwin has lifted Heyward’s

characters to lasting status.

Dr. Ethel Pitts Walker is Professor Emeritus

from the Television, Radio, Film, and Theatre

Department at San Jose State University

in California. She has directed more than 25

productions (the most recent being George

Wolfe’s

Colored Museum

) and has written

two books,

The New/Lost Plays of Ed Bullins

and

The African American Scenebook

, while

also contributing to numerous scholarly journals,

magazines, books, and newspapers. Walker

is the founding president of the Black Theatre

Network (a national organization of theatricians),

past president of the California Educational

Theatre Association, and past president of the

Legislative Action Coalition for Arts Education.

After teaching for more than 45 years, Walker

retired and is now living in southern California and

is enjoying her new job as grandmother.

Bess (Morenike Fadayomi) with Crown (Lester Lynch, seated left) and the men of Catfish Row: Lyric Opera production, 2008-09 season.

On Kittiwah Island, Sportin’ Life (Jermaine Smith, center) sings “It Ain’t Necessarily So”:

Lyric Opera production, 2008-09 season.