A USEFUL LIFE IN C MAJOR Coming to Hollywood Fringe

Internationally-recognized classical pianist David Wheatley takes the stage at the 2016 Hollywood Fringe in June for a genre-defying concert experience, A Useful Life in C Major. Wheatley's repertoire at the Asylum @ McCadden Theatre ranges from classical favorites to original compositions with everything from jazz to country to R&B in between. Visits from friends, surprising storytelling, and stand-up comedy punctuate the musical fare, making A Useful Life in C Major a musical interlude perfectly fit for the Fringe.

A Useful Life in C Major showcases David's versatility at the keyboard as well as the range of the instrument itself, taking audience members along for a ride through musical genres and madcap stories. Classical music-lovers will delight to hear some of their favorite works and original compositions among the mix; the uninitiated will tap their toes to beloved standards and discover new musical realms in a playful concert atmosphere. Improvisation and audience participation make everyone feel part of the fun, which is elevated enough for adults but friendly for the whole family. This is David's second foray into the Fringe, having co-written and co-directed the 2014 Hollywood Fringe musical Gallery.

David honed his skills through a career spent in the diverse worlds of classical performance, film and television scoring, and jazz recording and live performance. His experience runs the gamut from touring the country with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, performing Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B Minor at the organ, to recording on the soundtrack for Star Trek: The Motion Picture with a 100-piece orchestra at the historic Fox Studios. David has worked on and off screen in television, including playing on the soundtracks for Mork and Mindy, Angie and Laverne and Shirley and was featured as a co-star in an episode of the beloved series Happy Days. On the jazz side, David has recorded with performers such as vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Shelly Manne, as well as performed with the USC Jazz Ensemble featuring Gerald Wilson. David has performed at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles and has played the organ everywhere from Cathedrals in Canada to the Texas Rangers' baseball stadium. In addition to performing, David is a prolific composer, having written or co-written hundreds of compositions in a bevy of musical styles.

Performances of A Useful Life in C Major begin with a preview on June 5 at 1 p.m. and continue Saturday, June 11 at 1 p.m.;Sunday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 25 at 1 p.m.; and Sunday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Shows take place at the Asylum @ McCadden Theatre, located at 1157 N. McCadden Place.

Tickets are $10.

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