The Flying Carpet Theatre Company to Produce ALPIN HONG: CHASING CHOPIN

?Prior to its one week run at Lincoln Center, Alpin Hong: Chasing Chopin hits the stage at the Balzer Theatre at Herrens for an exclusive two day engagement, Nov.13­ -14. "Pianistic Firebrand", Alpin Hong and award­winning Flying Carpet Theatre join forces to bring you a performance that's part piano concert, part autobiography, part stand­up comedy, and all brilliance, hilarity, poignancy and incredible talent.

Alpin's unique interpretations of his idol, Frederic Chopin, come straight from his equally unique life experience. Raised in a Korean immigrant household in Michigan, Alpin lived the model Midwestern American life ­ loving parents, a comfortable house, a little brother, and plenty of piano competition awards on the wall. He was on track, due to his talent (and an intense "Tiger Mom"), to be a concert pianist. However, after a catastrophic car accident, Alpin's course was dramatically altered. Alpin moved to urban L.A., abandoned his piano, and replaced it with extreme partying, skateboarding, rollerblading, and run­ins with the cops. But with fate's almost magical intervention, Alpin found his way back to the piano and the world of classical music, topped off with a "hail mary" audition for Juilliard. -Alpin's incredible story invigorates Chopin's music and takes the audience on one man's amazing journey through the depths of classical artistry and the resilience of the creative spirit.

New York based Flying Carpet credits Atlanta as their "second home." Last year, 1001 Nights: A Love Story About Loving Stories, their co production with Center for Puppetry Arts, won two Suzi awards in the Theatre for Young Audience category including best production. Creative Loafing named the company's The Mystery of Chung Ling Soo Best Touring Show of 2005 and deemed their 2009 The Medicine Showdown one of the top shows of the decade. Under Adam Koplan's leadership, Flying Carpet has premiered multiple productions and toured the U.S. and Europe. Koplan, an Atlanta native and graduate of The Hebrew Academy of Atlanta and The Westminster Schools, was first exposed to classical music at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Shaw in the early 1980's.

Alpin Hong, a graduate of the elite masters program in classical piano at Juilliard, has played internationally and in all 50 states. The last few years have taken him to The White House and to Disney Hall. The New York Times called him "a pianistic firebrand" in a review of his standing­room only New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. The Idaho Statesman said, "Hong cut a magnetic physical presence and charmed the audience with engaging, powerful movements that were fun to watch. Throughout the piece he and the orchestra showed a wonderful give and take." The Santa Barbara News Press hailed him as "...a tour de force. Mr. Hong evoked a kind of Beatlemania when he came on stage. What a showman! What a musician!" His ability to captivate young audiences prompted the Ocala Star­Banner to call him "Classical for the iGeneration".

**This production and tour is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs**

Two Nights Only: Tickets can be purchased at brown paper tickets chasingchopin.brownpapertickets.com.

TICKETS ARE $30, $20 Students and Seniors with ID, $10 Under 18.

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