The Laguna Playhouse presents the popular and critically-acclaimed final movement of Hershey Felder's "Composer Sonata" trilogy, Hershey Felder AS GEORGE ALONE, a musical play directed by Joel Zwick with Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Hershey Felder. George Gershwin ALONE runs January 12 through February 21, 2010. The "Composer Sonata" comprises BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM; MONSIEUR CHOPIN; and this final movement, George Gershwin ALONE.
In
George Gershwin ALONE—which won Ovation Awards for Best Actor in a Musical (
Hershey Felder) and Best Musical—the internationally acclaimed actor, playwright and Steinway concert artist renders an intimate portrait of the legendary composer that provides a personal glimpse into Gershwin's early years, his personal life and his artistic genius. The evening is packed with many of Gershwin's most famous pieces, including "I Got Rhythm," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and of course, "Rhapsody in Blue."
The first popular composer to use jazz as the foremost musical element in the serious concert hall,
George Gershwin absorbed the musical styles, rhythms and sophistication of the American spirit and created a musical language that made its mark on both classical and popular music throughout the world.
Hershey Felder brings to life the essence of the legendary composer and pianist, leading audiences through the fascinating rhythms of Gershwin's legendary songbook, while telling the tale of his tragically short life.
Critics across the country have raved about
George Gershwin ALONE. The Washington post calls it "A heartfelt valentine wrapped up in stories and song." The Chicago Sun-Times said that "In an act of uncanny evocation that more often than not appears to verge on full-fledged channeling, the quadruple-threat performer
Hershey Felder - an actor, singer, pianist and writer, and all of the first order - has brought the quintessential American composer back to life." USA Today enthused that "Felder effectively conveys the emotional roots and resonance of Gershwin's music. Performing gems such as 'An American in Paris' and 'Bess, You Is My Woman Now,' he explains how the journeys taken by characters relevant to those works are reflected in the progression of notes, the chord changes, even the orchestrations." The New York Times stated that "
George Gershwin ALONE
makes a great case for his subject as the American Mozart."
Hershey Felder: Broadway, London's West End:
George Gershwin Alone (
Helen Hayes Theatre, Duchess Theatre). Regional and international appearances include
Beethoven As I Knew Him:
Cleveland Play House,
Arizona Theatre Company,
Geffen Playhouse, The
Old Globe Theatre, Drury Lane Water Tower.
Monsieur Chopin: Chicago's Royal George Theatre, The
Geffen Playhouse,
Arizona Theatre Company, American Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage,
Ravinia Festival,
The Old Globe,
Cleveland Play House; Command Performance for the Polish Ambassador to the United States, Polish Embassy, Washington; Uijeongbu Theatre Festival, South Korea.
George Gershwin Alone: 2004-2005 Chicago; 1999-2008 at
Ford's Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, The
Geffen Playhouse (2007 Los Angeles Ovation Awards for Best Musical and Best Actor),
The Old Globe,
Arizona Theatre Company,
Prince Music Theatre,
Cleveland Play House, The Gilmore Festival, Ravinia, Uijeongbu, and others. Compositions include
Aliyah,
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra;
Fairytale, a musical;
Les Anges de Paris,
Suite for Violin and Piano;
Song Settings, poetry by Vachel Lindsay;
Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra;
Etudes Thematiques for Piano. Recordings include
Love Songs of the Yiddish Theatre,
Back from Broadway,
George Gershwin Alone,
Monsieur Chopin, and
Beethoven,
As I Knew Him. Worldwide live broadcast,
George Gershwin Alone, July 2005. Current projects include a Negaunee Foundation Chicago composition commission, and a new musical,
Nine Hours on Tenth:
The Unknown Story of President Lincoln's Last Day. Mr. Felder has been a Scholar in Residence atHarvard University's Department of Music and is married to
Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada.
Joel Zwick: Directed
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, produced by
Tom Hanks,
Rita Wilson and
Gary Goetzman. Recent films include
Fat Albert (with
Bill Cosby), and
Elvis Has Left the Building, starring John Corbett and Kim Basinger. Mr. Zwick directed the Broadway production of
George Gershwin Alone at the
Helen Hayes Theatre, as well as all other productions. Mr. Zwick began his theatrical career at La Mama E.T.C., as director of the La Mama Plexus. He has directed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Broadway touring companies. Currently, Mr. Zwick is recognized as one of Hollywood's most prolific director of episodic television, having the direction of 525 episodes to his credit. These include having directed 21 pilots, which have gone on to become regular series. Television shows include:
Laverne & Shirley,
Mork & Mindy,
Bosom Buddies,
Webster,
Perfect Strangers,
Full House,
Step By Step,
Family Matters,
It's a Living,
Bros. Wayans,
Joanie Loves Chachi,
Jamie Foxx,
Kirk,
Parent 'Hood,
Angie,
On Our Own,
Two Of A Kind,
Love Boat,
Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, etc. Previous New York productions have included
Dance With Me (Tony nomination),
Shenandoah (Broadway national tour),
Oklahoma (national tour) and
Cold Storage (American Place Theater). He acted in the original New York production of
MacBird. He directed
Esther (Promenade Theater, NY),
Merry-Go-Round (Chicago and Las Vegas),
Last Chance Saloon and
Woycek (West End, London). Mr. Zwick has taught drama at Yale University, Brooklyn College, Queens College, Wheaton College, and the University of Southern California. He is a graduate (B.A., M.A.) of Brooklyn College.
George Gershwin: Born in 1898 to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York. Together, he and his brother Ira wrote standards such as "The Man I Love," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," "Fascinating Rhythm," "I Got Rhythm," "S'Wonderful" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me." His groundbreaking opera,
Porgy and Bess, is now considered an American classic. All told,
George Gershwin wrote more than one thousand songs for the stage and screen as well as works for the opera house and the symphony orchestra, including his renowned
Rhapsody in Blue. In 1937, at the age of 38, Gershwin died of an undiagnosed brain tumor, never knowing how famous and beloved he and his work would become.
Performance DatesJanuary 12 - February 21, 2010
Tuesday - Saturday at 8 p.m. / Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m.
Thursday Matinees January 14 & 28 at 2 p.m.
Sunday Evening January 24 at 7 p.m.
Ticket PricesPreview performances: $35 to $55
Regular performances: $40 to $70
(Dates and times subject to change)
Photo of Hershey Felder by Mark Garvin.
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Tickets to
Hershey Felder as
George Gershwin ALONE are $35 to $70. For information or to purchase tickets, please call 949.497.ARTS (2787) - GROUP SALES: 949.497.2787 ext. 229
or The
Laguna Playhouse web site online at
www.LagunaPlayhouse.com. The
Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA.
For more information, call (949) 497-2787 or visit
www.LagunaPlayhouse.com. For more information on
Hershey Felder as
George Gershwin Alone, please visit the website
www.gershwinalone.com.
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