TICKET SALES ARE SLOW FOR TONIGHT'S 'PROGY AND BESS'

Ticket sales have been slow for "Porgy and Bess," an American opera that will be performed at 7 tonight at the Show Me Center.

As of late Monday afternoon, only about 750 tickets had been sold for the performance. That is fewer than half of the 1,900 seats available.

"We thought if we could get 1,210, we would be doing really good," said David Ross, center director.

Tickets cost $22 to $36.

"I think there are a number of people who are not familiar with it or the story line," Ross said, suggesting that might have contributed to the soft ticket sales.

The story deals with love, jealousy, murder, gambling and drug dealing on Catfish Row in Charleston, S.C.

The show features such songs as "Summertime," "It Ain't Necessarily So" and "I Got Plenty of Nuttin.'"

Ross said the production isn't easy to define. Some consider it opera; others view it more as musical theater.

Whatever the definition, Ross said the George and Ira Gershwin creation is entertaining. The New York city-based Living Arts Inc. is producing the show.

"I think those who do come will be very pleased with the show," he said.