Description:

A most historic document, the original agreement in which GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937), IRA GERSHWIN (1896-1983), DUBOSE HEYWARD (1885-1940) and DOROTHY HEYWARD (1890-1961) grant the Theatre Guild of New York the rights to produce their opera 'Porgy and Bess' for the stage, thus paving the way for the greatest operatic work by an American composer to be performed for the first time. The contract, a 7pp. 4to. carbon on onionskin paper, was executed in New York on June 28, 1935 and it is boldly signed on the last page by the composer, lyricist, authors, and by Theatre Guild representative Warren P. Munsell. Additionally, all the parties initialed the contract in two other places, and Munsell in a few other places as well. At the time, the work was titled 'Porgy', and it remains so in this contract. The Theatre Guild is given the exclusive right to produce the work in the U.S. and Canada, and the 'Authors' (the Gershwins and Heywards) are to be paid $1,000 upon signing, with 10% of the royalties to be paid to them as earned thereafter. All other profits were to be split 50-50, except for film rights, where the Authors were to be paid 66 2/3%. There are similar divisions for the sale of music rights, foreign film rights, etc. Staple holes at upper-left, with a small loss to the top margin of the last page, else near fine condition. Three months after the signing of this contract, the play (now 'Porgy and Bess') opened at the Colonial Theater in Boston and ten days later came to the Alvin Theater on Broadway. Its brought some of the best known songs and music of all time to the world's ears, including Summertime, I Got Plenty o' Nuttin, It Ain't Necessarily So, and A Woman is a Sometime Thing.

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April 7, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000