Hershey Felder Brings the Story of America's Composer, Irving Berlin, to Life

Celebrated performer and pianist Hershey Felder brings the remarkable story of beloved composer Irving Berlin to The Armory with his highly acclaimed solo-show, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Portland audiences are familiar with Hershey Felder as the adaptor and director ofThe Pianist of Willesden Lane, which played to sold-out houses at The Armory last season and will return in June for a limited engagement. Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin is directed by Trevor Hay, who collaborated with Felder on The Pianist of Willesden Lane, along with a number of other works. Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin opens on the U.S. Bank Main Stage on December 2; preview performances begin November 30; and the production runs through December 30.

Regular tickets start at $25. Tickets may be purchased at www.pcs.org,503.445.3700, or in-person from the box office (128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR). Rush tickets are $20. Students and patrons who are 30 or younger can purchase $30 tickets in all premium seating areas. Showtimes are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (excluding December 11, 13, 24 and 25); Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. (excluding December 3 and 25); and Thursday matinees at noon(excluding December 1). Recommended for ages 10 and up. Children under 6 are not permitted at any PCS production. Information at https://www.pcs.org/irvingberlin.

ABOUT THE PLAY

Songwriter Jerome Kern said it all: "Irving Berlin ... IS American music." This tour de force performance takes us from the depths of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia to New York's Lower East Side - and ultimately throughout America and the world. Featuring Irving Berlin's most popular and enduring songs, Hershey Felder's masterful creation of character and musical performance makes this evening with Irving Berlin an unforgettable journey that epitomizes the American dream. Hailed as "the greatest songwriter that has ever lived" by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin is known for innumerable American classics such as "White Christmas," "God Bless America," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Always," "Blue Skies" and "Puttin' on the Ritz." Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin production photos are available on flickr.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin had its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in 2014. The production was a smash hit, extending for two weeks and breaking box office records. Los Angeles Times proclaimed: "That indefatigable purveyor of composers Felder now applies his singular blend of musical biography, character study and piano virtuosity toward the iconic songwriter ... The results are richly entertaining and ultimately touching." The production was such a hit that Felder returned to Geffen Playhouse in the summer of 2015 for a second engagement and has since performed the show throughout the country at companies such as San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse, New York's The Town Hall and Boston's ArtsEmerson.

Hershey Felder

Over the past twenty years, Hershey Felder has played over 4,500 performances of his acclaimed self-created solo productions at some of the world's most prestigious theaters. In addition to Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, his shows include George Gershwin Alone (Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, West End's Duchess Theatre), Monsieur Chopin,Beethoven, Maestro Bernstein, Franz Liszt in Musik and Lincoln: An American Story. His compositions and recordings include Aliyah, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra; Fairytale, a musical; Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano; Song Settings; Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra; Etudes Thematiques for Piano; and An American Story for Actor and Orchestra. Future productions include Our Great Tchaikovsky and the new musicalChosen By G-d for which he is writing music, book and lyrics. Felder has been a scholar-in-residence at Harvard University's Department of Music and is married to Kim Campbell, the first female Prime Minister of Canada.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Trevor Hay...........................Director/Scenic Co-Designer
Richard Norwood................Lighting Designer
Lawrence Siefert.................Projection Co-Designer
Christopher Ash..................Projection Co-Designer

Erik Carstensen...................Sound Designer/Line Producer

Meghan Maiya....................Production Dramaturg

Kelsey Daye Lutz.................Stage Manager

Portland Center Stage at The Armory

Portland Center Stage at The Armory is the largest theater company in Portland and among the top 20 regional theaters in the country. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the company became independent in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since May, 2000. Around 160,000 visitors attend The Armory annually to enjoy a mix of classical, contemporary and world premiere productions, along with a variety of high quality education and community programs. 11 productions are offered each season, in addition to roughly 400 community events created - in partnership with 170+ local organizations and individuals - to serve the diverse populations in the city. As part of its dedication to new play development, the company has produced 21 world premieres and presents an annual new works festival, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. The Northwest Stories series was recently launched to develop and produce works about, or by artists from, the Northwest region. Home to two theaters, The Armory was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.

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