Hershey Felder Returns to The Cleveland Play House in BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM 9/15-10/4

After sold-out performances of George Gershwin Alone and Monsieur Chopin, award-winning performer Hershey Felder returns to The Cleveland Play House with the culmination of his Composer Sonata trilogy Beethoven, As I Knew Him. Kicking off the Play House's 94th consecutive season, Beethoven, As I Knew Him brings the German musical genius Ludwig Van Beethoven to life through the eyes of his last surviving friend. Flashbacks to his life, combined with performances of some of the most powerful music ever composed, create a complex and moving portrait of the composer. Under the direction of Joel Zwick, Beethoven, As I Knew Him begins in the Bolton Theatre at The Cleveland Play House on Tuesday, September 15 and runs through Sunday, October 4, 2009. In addition, Felder will perform a limited engagement of The American Songbook Sing-Along in the Bolton Theatre from Tuesday, October 6 through Sunday, October 11, 2009. Tickets for both shows are on sale now at The Cleveland Play House box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Beethoven, As I Knew Him is presented in promotional partnership with the InterContinental Hotel and generous support of the Kulas Foundation.

"We are delighted to welcome Hershey Felder back to Cleveland, a city that knows its classical music," said Play House Artistic Director Michael Bloom. "These two shows are the encores our audiences asked for."

Following the run of Beethoven, As I Knew Him, Hershey Felder will throw a dazzling party for Cleveland audiences with Hershey Felder: The American Songbook Sing-Along. In celebration of the greatest music of the American theatre, Felder will play some of Broadway's classic show tunes and give audiences a chance to sing with the maestro (see Fact Sheet below for more information).

ABOUT BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM
Based on a true story, Ludwig Van Beethoven is brought stirringly to life through the eyes of his last surviving friend, more than 40 years after Beethoven's death. The story is told by Gerhard von Breuning, the son of Beethoven's best friend and neighbor, who as a 12-year-old made almost daily visits to Beethoven's Vienna apartment during the last two years of the composer's life. Portraying both Beethoven and von Breuning, Hershey Felder's bravura performance traces the brilliance of the Maestro's musical career through personal anecdotes and by playing excerpts from, among others, The Moonlight Sonata, The Pathetique Sonata, Emperor's Concerto, the fifth and the ninth symphonies and, of course, Für Elise. Beethoven, As I Knew Him is a journey through time that promises to bring audiences closer to the genius of Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Hershey Felder is known for his exhaustive research into the music and lives of his theatrical subjects. When asked about his process in developing Beethoven, As I Knew Him, Felder replied that, "I loved the fact that whether what von Breuning says actually happened or not, this is a person in Beethoven's lifetime who knew Beethoven very well and had a very specific recollection - that for me was enough to tell it. I love being able to use somebody's real words who was really there, and to put across his point of view of what actually happened. It's a period perspective that we don't actually see today. In our search to find the truth we sometimes miss the magic."

ABOUT Hershey Felder
Hershey Felder (Gerhard von Breuning/Ludwig Van Beethoven/Playwright) Broadway, London's West End: George Gershwin Alone (Helen Hayes Theatre, Duchess Theatre). Regional and international appearances include Beethoven As I Knew Him: Arizona Theatre Company, Geffen Playhouse, The Old Globe Theatre. Monsieur Chopin: Chicago's Royal George Theatre, 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, Geffen Playhouse (2007 L.A. Stage Ovation Awards, Best Musical and Best Actor), The Old Globe, Arizona Theatre Company, Prince Music Theatre (Philadelphia), Cleveland Play House, The Gilmore Festival, Ravinia, El Paso, 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 and Monsieur Chopin for the WFMT Radio Network Recordings label, Beethoven As I Knew Him for the Eighty Eight Entertainment label. Worldwide live broadcast, George Gershwin Alone, July 2005. Current projects include a Negaunee Foundation Chicago composition commission, and the world premiere of Nine Hours on Tenth: The Unknown Story of President Lincoln's Last Day. Mr. Felder is a board member of the Colburn School in Los Angeles, a former Scholar in Residence at Harvard University's Department of Music, and a former board member of Ford's Theatre and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Mr. Felder is married to Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada.

BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM Creative Team
Joel Zwick (Director) 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.

The design team for Beethoven, As I Knew Him includes François-Pierre Couture (Scenic Designer), Richard Norwood (Lighting Designer) and Eric Carstensen (Sound Design). Scenery & furniture crafted by
The Arizona Theatre Company.

Prices: Regular ticket prices range from $35 to $40, with discounts available for groups of ten or more, for senior citizens aged 60 and over, and for military reservists and their families. Tickets are $10 for all students under the age of 25. A limited number of $10 rush tickets go on sale 90 minutes before curtain and remain on sale until 30 minutes before curtain, based on availability.

For Single Tickets: Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com

Groups of 10 of more: Call CoSandra Wheeler, (216) 795-7000, ext. 180

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