Anne Brown was an American lyric soprano for whom George Gershwin rewrote the part of "Bess" into a leading role in the original production of his opera Porgy and Bess in 1935.
Anne Brown
Anne Brown receiving Peabody Award, 1998
Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play Porgy, itself an adaptation of DuBose Heyward's 1925 novel Porgy.
Ruby Elzy as Serena in the original Broadway production of Porgy and Bess (1935)
John W. Bubbles as Sportin' Life in the original Broadway production of Porgy and Bess (1935)
Leontyne Price as Bess
Poster for the 1959 film version