Biography:Gershwin is best known for his collaboration with his brother George Gershwin, as well as his work on Broadway musicals. He began writing lyrics for songs when he was just 15 years old.
In 1920, he teamed up with his brother, George, to write songs for Broadway musicals. Their first big hit was "Swanee," which was recorded by Al Jolson. They also collaborated on such classics as "I Got Rhythm" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me."
In addition to his work with George, Ira Gershwin also wrote lyrics for several Broadway musicals, including "Girl Crazy" and "Porgy and Bess". He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1932 for his work on "Of Thee I Sing".
1924-12-01George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's 1st collaborative musical "Lady, Be Good!", featuring siblings Fred Astaire and Adelle Astaire as a brother and sister dance team, opens at the Liberty Theatre, NYC, runs for 330 performances
1925-09-12George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's 1st collaborative musical "Lady, Be Good!", featuring siblings Fred Astaire and Adelle Astaire as a brother and sister dance team, closes at the Liberty Theatre, NYC, after 330 performances
1925-12-28 George and Ira Gershwin's musical "Tip-Toes" premieres in New York City
1926-04-14George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's 1st collaborative musical "Lady, Be Good!", featuring siblings Fred Astaire and Adelle Astaire as a brother and sister dance team, opens at Empire Theatre, London's West End; runs for 326 performances
1926-11-08George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, and P.G. Wodehouse's musical "Oh, Kay" opens at the Imperial Theatre, NYC; runs for 256 performances
1927-11-22George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's musical "Funny Face", starring Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire, opens at the new Alvin Theatre, NYC; runs 244 performances
1928-11-08 George and Ira Gershwin's musical "Treasure Girl" premieres in NYC
1931-06-06George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's musical "Girl Crazy" starring Ginger Rogers and featuring debut of Ethel Merman, closes at the Alvin Theater, NYC, after 272 performances, and making stars of Rogers and Merman
1931-12-26George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind's musical political satire "Of Thee I Sing" opens at the Music Box Theatre, NYC; runs for 441 performances, and becomes first musical to win Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1933-01-14George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind's musical political satire "Of Thee I Sing" closes at the Music Box Theatre, NYC, after for 441 performances; first musical to win Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1934-08-27Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin and Yip Harburg's musical "Life Begins at 8:40", starring Ray Bolger and Lulla Gear opens at the Winter Garden Theatre, NYC; runs for 237 performances
1934-12-27 Musical revue "Thumbs Up", including music and lyrics by Vernon Duke, James Hanley, and Ira Gershwin (among others), premieres at the St. James Theatre, NYC; runs for 156 performance
1935-03-16Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin and Yip Harburg's musical "Life Begins at 8:40", starring Ray Bolger and Lulla Gear, closes at the Winter Garden Theatre, NYC, after 237 performances
1943-11-26 MGM releases last of 9 Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movies - "Girl Crazy", a film adaptation of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's stage musical
1946-11-04 Arthur Schwartz, Ira Gershwin, and George S. Kaufman's musical "Park Avenue" opens at Shubert Theater, NYC; runs for 72 performances
1952-05-08 Revival of George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind's musical political satire "Of Thee I Sing", directed by Kaufman, opens at Ziegfeld Theater, NYC; runs for 72 performances
1952-07-05 Revival of George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind's musical political satire "Of Thee I Sing", directed by Kaufman, closes at Ziegfeld Theater, NYC, after 72 performances
1985-03-03 Musical created around songs of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin "My One and Only", starring Tommy Tune, Twiggy, and Roscoe Lee Brown, closes at St James Theater, NYC, after 767 performances and 3 Tony award wins
1996-01-07 Musical featuring works of George and Ira Gershwin "Crazy For You" closes at Shubert Theater, NYC, after 1622 performances, winning 3 Tony Awards
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