<Tr> <Th> Based on </Th> <Td> Heyward's novel Porgy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Premiere </Th> <Td> September 30, 1935 (1935 - 09 - 30) Colonial Theatre (Boston) </Td> </Tr> <P> Porgy and Bess is an English - language opera by the American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin . It was adapted from Heyward's play Porgy, itself an adaptation of his 1925 novel of the same name . </P> <P> Porgy and Bess was first performed in Boston on September 30, 1935, before it moved to Broadway in New York City . It featured a cast of classically trained African - American singers--a daring artistic choice at the time . After suffering from an initially unpopular public reception due in part to its racially charged theme, a 1976 Houston Grand Opera production gained it new popularity, and it is now one of the best - known and most frequently performed operas . </P>

Who wrote the lyrics for porgy and bess