🎭 Houston Grand Opera opens its new season with Porgy and Bess - here’s your backstage pass!

HOUSTON – The curtain is about to rise at Houston Grand Opera, launching a brand-new season with one of the most powerful and enduring works ever written - Porgy and Bess.

Fifty years after HGO’s groundbreaking 1976 staging went on to Broadway and earned both a Tony and a Grammy, the Gershwins’ masterpiece returns to the Wortham Theater Center in a celebrated new production directed by Francesca Zambello.

And as Houston Life discovered, bringing a story of this scale to the stage takes an entire world behind the curtain - from the conductor’s podium to the costume and wig shop that hums with creative energy months before opening night.

The Heartbeat of Porgy and Bess

In the Grand Foyer, I caught up with conductor James Gaffigan, who returns to the city where his career began - as a student at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

“The history of this piece at this company is extraordinary,” Gaffigan said. “It’s one of those works that breaks boundaries - opera, musical theater, classical and jazz all in one. This cast, this orchestra, this chorus… they’re world-class. Houston audiences are in for something truly special.”

Voices with Deep Roots

Baritone Justin Austin, who plays Jake, has a lifelong connection to Porgy and Bess - and, technically, it started before he could walk.

When his mother, an opera singer, performed in another company’s production of Porgy and Bess, baby Justin was nearby - and ended up unofficially playing the infant on stage.

“I played the role of Clara’s baby,” he laughed. “That baby grew up to be me! Now I’m back as Jake - it’s come full circle.”

Austin says returning to HGO is deeply meaningful.

“It’s a big deal for me and my family,” he said. “My mother started her career as an opera singer here in HGO’s Butler Opera Studio. It’s been one of my dreams to follow in her footsteps and sing on this stage.”

Meanwhile, Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue, who stars as Bess, balances powerhouse performances with a passion for mentoring young artists. She loves inspiring the next generation of opera singers - and she lives her message on stage and off.

“When I step into a role, I’m careful not to judge my characters,” she said. “Bess is someone people might see as troubled, but I try to be honest with who she is - that’s where truth and connection come from.”

Blue’s sense of compassion extends far beyond the footlights.

“It’s really important to uplift people,” she added. “I care about people, even if I don’t know them. And I want the next generation to feel hope. After all, my name is Angel - I take that responsibility happily.”

Crafting the World of Catfish Row

Of course, the music is only half the story. The look of Porgy and Bess - the texture, the movement, the authenticity - all come to life inside HGO’s costume and wig shop, tucked within the Wortham’s backstage maze.

Once a bank, it’s now a vibrant studio filled with bolts of fabric, shelves of wigs, and racks of costumes that tell a story of their own. The original bank vault is now used for costume fittings!

Kristen Burke, HGO’s Director of Production, oversees the massive operation - coordinating not only Porgy and Bess but seven other productions this season.

“We start working anywhere from 18 months to a year ahead,” Burke explained. “Porgy and Bess is a rental - we bring in the costumes from Washington National Opera and the sets from Glimmerglass Festival. Then our team fits, alters, and even rebuilds pieces to make sure they’re perfect for our cast.”

These costumes carry serious pedigree.

“They were designed by Oscar-winner Paul Tazewell, who also designed for Hamilton and Wicked: The Movie,” Burke said. “We still consult with him or his associates to honor his original vision - down to the color, the cut, and the wear and tear that makes them feel real.”

Each costume tag tells its own story - listing the names of opera legends who have worn the same garments before.

“There’s a lot of history in these pieces,” Burke added. “Opera costumes can live for decades, traveling from company to company. We’re just adding the next page.”

🎭 From Rehearsal to Spotlight

For the teams at Houston Grand Opera, every stitch, every note, and every rehearsal leads to that electrifying moment when the curtain rises and the orchestra swells.

Porgy and Bess opens October 24, 2025, at the Wortham Theater Center, launching HGO’s new season with nine performances.

For tickets and showtimes, visit HGO.org or call 713-228-6737.

Houston Grand Opera’s legacy is built on artistry, innovation, and heart - and as the company brings Porgy and Bess back to its stage, it proves once again that Houston stands among the world’s great cultural cities.