Felder's 'Beethoven' Premieres in Chicago, Feb. 9

Beethoven, a new play by Hershey Felder, will have its world premiere at Chicago's Royal George Theatre (1641 North Halsted Street).  Performances begin on February 9, 2007. 

Felder is currently appearing at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in an acclaimed run of the two previous movements of his "Composer Sonata"--George Gershwin Alone, and Monsieur Chopin.  Both productions enjoyed successful long-run engagements at Chicago's Royal George Theatre for a total of seventy weeks, from September 2004 through January 2006.

"Created by the same team that brought George Gershwin Alone and Monsieur Chopin to life, Beethoven features some of the master's most enduring and beloved works.  The action of the play centers on a little known story about the composer and his legacy," as the show is described by press notes.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany, and he died in Vienna, Austria.  "Considered in his day and by history as the greatest composer to have ever lived, Ludwig van Beethoven had the capacity to capture every aspect of humanity in his revered and famous creations...the music of Ludwig van Beethoven stands as a pillar of what human beings can accomplish when faced with great adversity in that Beethoven's finest creations were composed when he was completely deaf." 

Beethoven is written by Felder and directed by Joel Zwick, director of George Gershwin Alone and Monsieur Chopin, as well as My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  Dr. Jeffrey Kallberg, leading musicologist and Chairman of the Department of Music at the University of Pennsylvania, will again act as production consultant.

Felder has appeared in stage roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway and regionally.  His credits include George Gershwin Alone, 2500 performances from Los Angeles to London's West End including Broadway; Monsieur Chopin, in Chicago, Boston, Hartford Stage, The Old Globe, San Diego; as well as Stempenyu, Fiddler on the Roof, Gigi, Waiting for Godot, Macbeth, Sotoba Komache, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, Shlemiel I, Lies My Father Told Me, and more. A Visiting Scholar in Residence at Harvard University's Department of Music, Felder's works have been performed internationally.  As a Steinway concert artist, he has appeared in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Israel and Europe.  In addition he is a playwright and composer.

The play begins performances at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street on Tuesday, February 9th, 2007.  The performance schedule is as follows:  Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. &  8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $45.00 and are available at the Royal George Theatre Box Office, 1641 North Halsted Street or (312) 988-9000, by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 902-1500, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Groups of 10 or more may receive a discount by calling Group sales phone: (312) 922-2110 ext 357.