A CENTURY OF CREATIVITY
THE MACDOWELL COLONY 1907-2007

  • DUBOSE and DOROTHY HEYWARD
    Featured Objects

  • Manuscript of 'Porgy'
  • 'Respite: to the MacDowell Colony'
  • Photograph of Porgy & Bess production

PORGY, A PLAY

Manuscript of 'Porgy'

enlarge imagePorgy.
Original typescript, copyright deposit, August 2, 1926.  Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
Courtesy DuBose and Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund (35)
Digital ID # mc0035

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Porgy, a Play

In 1924, DuBose Heyward read from his novel-in-progress at The MacDowell Colony. His fellow colonists pronounced it "atrocious," and suggested he return to writing poetry.  The novel was called Porgy, and Heyward finished it despite their criticism.  Dorothy Heyward saw dramatic possibilities in the story and convinced DuBose it would work as a play.  This is the original copyright deposit for the play Porgy, still in its brown paper cover. The 1927 Theater Guild production ran for 367 performances.

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