Hershey Felder Leads GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE At Pasadena Playhouse

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced that a 10th anniversary presentation of George Gershwin ALONE, created by and starring Hershey Felder, will play a limited engagement at The Pasadena Playhouse. Performances will begin April 12, 2011, with the official press opening on Sunday, April 17, 2011. A global live radio broadcast of the production on the WFMT Radio Network will take place on May 2nd. The Playhouse will also present the popular Hershey Felder's Great American Songbook Sing-Along, which is scheduled for April 25 and May 9, 2011.

"We are very pleased to have Mr. Felder on the stage of The Playhouse following his great success in George Gershwin ALONE at theatres all over the country and abroad," said Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. "I have always been a great admirer of George Gershwin's musical genius, and I know that our audiences will appreciate this opportunity to learn more about his life, his art and the creation of his incredible body of music in Hershey Felder's illuminating theatre piece."

Hershey Felder, creator and performer of the production stated: "The opportunity to return to perform George Gershwin's work in Los Angeles, the city in which he lived out his life, is very special. To be able to perform this work one final time in the city of the play's creation at the beautiful and historic Pasadena Playhouse, one of the few operating theatres in Los Angeles dating from George Gershwin's lifetime, is a thrilling idea in and of itself. I am very excited to be able to bring this work to life one final time under these wonderful circumstances." Felder commented, regarding the global radio broadcast, "to be able to broadcast this music so beloved by the world audience, the way George Gershwin did first on the WJZ network and later on CBS in his legendary radio appearances, in the 1930's, will hopefully add a very exciting dimension by taking us back to the way music and theatre was broadcast when Gershwin himself was alive."

WFMT Radio Network, the leading producer and distributor of classical music radio programming in the U.S. for over 30 years will host a live global broadcast of the entire production of George Gershwin ALONE from the stage of The Pasadena Playhouse beginning at 7:00 p.m. PST on May 2, 2011. The Network broadcasts the world's leading symphony orchestras, (The NY Philharmonic, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Los Angeles Philharmonic and others) along with the Nation's leading opera companies, chamber music ensembles and special music programs. "We are thrilled to be able to bring this exciting work to listeners in nations across the globe from one of the country's historic and beautiful theatres, The Pasadena Playhouse, and to be broadcasting Mr. Felder's work once again," stated Steve Robinson, General Manager of WFMT and WFMT Radio Network.

In addition to the George Gershwin ALONE engagement, The Pasadena Playhouse will present two performances of Hershey Felder's Great American Songbook Sing-Along on Monday April 25 and Monday May 9, 2011. Audiences will join Hershey Felder for a tour through an entire century of American music. Beginning with Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and the Gershwins through Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, featuring selections from The Sound of Music, Showboat, Fiddler on the Roof and more.

George Gershwin ALONE is written and performed by Hershey Felder and directed by Joel Zwick. Scenic design is by Yael Pardess with lighting design by Michael T. Gilliam and assistant lighting design by Margaret Hartmann. Broadway production sound design by Jon Gottlieb, and costume design is by Ermengildo Zegna. Production Stage Manager is GiGi Garcia with Production Manager/Technical Director Matt Marsden.

George Gershwin ALONE, Hershey Felder's first theatrical work (followed by Monsieur Chopin; Beethoven, As I Knew Him; MAESTRO, The Art of Leonard Bernstein and the recently released An American Story for actor and orchestra with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), is a play with music about the legendary American composer, George Gershwin. The show incorporates the Gershwin's best-known songs, from "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," through passages and songs from An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess, to a complete performance of "Rhapsody in Blue." The first popular composer to use jazz as the foremost musical element in the serious concert hall, 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. Actor, playwright and Steinway concert artist Hershey Felder brings to life the spirit and talent 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. This critically and popularly acclaimed work has enjoyed more than 2,750 worldwide performances from California to South Korea and was developed at Los Angeles' Tiffany Theatre in 2000. It has also been performed at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse in 2007-2008 (Ovation Award-winner for Best Musical and Best Actor in A Musical.)

Critical praise for George Gershwin ALONE include: "In an act of uncanny evocation that more often than not appears to verge on full-fledged channeling, the quadruple-threat performer Hershey Felder - a Canadian-bred actor, singer, pianist and writer, and all of the first order - has brought the quintessential American composer back to life." (Chicago Sun-Times); "Felder effectively conveys the emotional roots and resonance of Gershwin's music." (USA Today); and "George Gershwin Alone makes a great case for his subject as the American Mozart" (NY Times).

George Gershwin ALONE will play at The Pasadena Playhouse from April 12 - May 8, 2011 with the official press opening on April 17, 2011. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Regular ticket price range is from $39.00 - $69.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00. All preview performances are $10 off the regular ticket price (except Premium Seating). Rush tickets are available for $20.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability. Rush tickets must be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates and Tuesday- Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on performance dates. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1159. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Hershey Felder's Great American Songbook Sing-Along will perform on Monday, April 25 and May 9 at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $39.00 - $59.00 with Premium Seating available for $100.00 and may be purchased through The Pasadena Playhouse box office, phone lines or online.
Tickets for the WFMT Radio global broadcast performance of George Gershwin ALONE on Monday, May 2, are available for $55.00 - $75.00 with Premium Seating offered at $100.00 through The Pasadena Playhouse box office, phone lines or online.

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