Georgette Harvey (December 31, 1884 – February 17, 1952) was an American singer and actress. She is perhaps most famous for creating the role of Maria in the original

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

production of '' Porgy'' (1927) and the 1935 Broadway production of

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

Porgy and Bess ''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'', it ...

''.

Biography

At age 18 Georgette Harvey left her native St. Louis, Missouri, for New York City. She formed a quartet, the Creole Belles, that performed briefly in the U.S. before going to Europe. After some years the group disbanded but Harvey stayed on, performing in nightclubs and cabarets. She lived and performed in Russia for 16 years, and left at the outset of the Russian Revolution. She briefly performed in Japan before returning to the United States. She became a

character actress A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to be ...

and singer on the Broadway stage. Her credits include '' Porgy'', ''Stevedore'', ''

'', ''

Mamba's Daughters ''Mamba's Daughters'' () is a 1929 novel written by DuBose Heyward and published by the University of South Carolina Press. It was later adapted by Heward and his wife Dorothy Heyward for the stage; the play premiered on Broadway in 1939. Nove ...

'' and '' Anna Lucasta''. Although Harvey made a

screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a came ...

for the role of Mammy in ''

Gone With the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' (1939),

Hattie McDaniel Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893October 26, 1952) was an American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. For her role as Mammy in ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939), she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, ...

won the role. Harvey's screen test survives today and a portion can be glimpsed in the documentary '' The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind'' (1988). Harvey died February 17, 1952, aged 69.

Filmography

*''

Social Register The ''Social Register'' is a semi-annual publication in the United States that indexes the members of American high society. First published in the 1880s by newspaper columnist Louis Keller, it was later acquired by Malcolm Forbes. Since 2014, ...

'' (1934) *''

Chloe, Love Is Calling You ''Chloe, Love Is Calling You'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Marshall Neilan. The film is also known as ''Chloe'' (American short title). This was lead actress Olive Borden's last film. Plot summary A low-budget Southern dra ...

'' (1934) *'' Back Door to Heaven'' (1939) *'' The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair'' (1939)

References

External links

* * 1880s births 1952 deaths African-American actresses American film actresses American musical theatre actresses 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers {{US-singer-stub