Final answer:
George and Ira Gershwin are the creators of "Porgy and Bess", a pivotal work in American musical theatre. Their efforts provided entertainment during challenging times in America, alongside other noteworthy contributions from teams like Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Step-by-step explanation:
The creators of "Porgy and Bess" are George and Ira Gershwin. This opera, which debuted in 1935, was a significant contribution to American musical theatre. During a time when America was enduring the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II, the Gershwins' work, among others, helped provide a cultural reprieve.
George Gershwin composed the music while his brother, Ira Gershwin, was responsible for the lyrics. Their collaboration on Porgy and Bess is just one example of how their contributions to music helped define the American musical theater landscape.
In contrast to the Gershwins, other legendary teams included Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, who created iconic works like Oklahoma!, which revolutionized musical theatre with new storytelling techniques, including the use of a psychological dream ballet as depicted by Agnes de Mille's innovative choreography.