MIchael Tilson to Conduct THE THOMASHEFSKYS at NY Philharmonic, 4/5-6

Michael Tilson Thomas will conduct and host a staged presentation of The  Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in Yiddish Theater, Tuesday and  Wednesday, April 5-6, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., with the New York Philharmonic at Avery  Fisher Hall. Directed by Patricia Birch, the multimedia evening celebrates Mr. Tilson  Thomas's grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, by following the story of these  European immigrants who played major roles in the development of American Yiddish  theater, a central part of life on Manhattan's Lower East Side at the beginning of the 20th  century. Starring are Judy Blazer as Bessie and Shuler Hensley as Boris; the  performances feature Eugene Brancoveanu and Ronit Widmann-Levy - all making their  New York Philharmonic debuts.

The Thomashefskys recreates the atmosphere of the time through music, costumes, and projections of film clips, archival photos, posters, and other memorabilia. Mr. Tilson  Thomas and the four principal performers will share the stage with a 30-piece  Philharmonic orchestra - the typical size of a pit orchestra of that era. The material for  the program, reconstructed by The Thomashefsky Project, presents audiences with a  musical sound that few have heard since the early 20th century.

Single tickets for these performances start at $32. Tickets for Open Rehearsals are $18.  Pre-Concert Talks are $7; discounts are available for multiple concerts, students, and  groups (visit nyphil.org/preconcert for more information). All other tickets may be  purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.,  Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets may also be  purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office or the Alice Tully Hall Box Office at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 65th Street. The Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday  through Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. On performance evenings, the Box Office  closes one-half hour after performance time; other evenings it closes at 6:00 p.m. To  determine ticket availability, call the Philharmonic's Customer Relations Department at  (212) 875-5656. [Ticket prices subject to change.].