Jon Peterson to Star in Reading of Chip Deffaa's IRVING BERLIN: IN PERSON

Fresh from starring in the national tour of "Cabaret," Jon Peterson will star in a staged reading of ASCAP Award-winning writer Chip Deffaa's new show "Irving Berlin: In Person," 7 pm., Sunday, September 24th.

This first presentation, which is free - donations will be accepted - will be at the 13th Street Repertory Theater, 50 W. 13th St., New York City.

Peterson will return to the theater for a proper ticketed tryout run of the show in November and December.

Deffaa has written the new one-man musical play expressly for Peterson. "For my money," Deffaa says, "Jon Peterson is the best song-and-dance man working today, and it's always a joy to develop a new show with him. This will be the first public presentation. Then we'll tweak and tighten it and come back for a showcase run in two months."

About a decade ago, Deffaa wrote "George M. Cohan Tonight!" for Peterson, and in the years since, Peterson has performed that acclaimed show all across the US (New York, New Orleans, Hollywood, etc.), as well as in London and Seoul. For his portrayal of Cohan, Peterson has been honored by the Drama League, nominated for a Drama Desk award, and won a Bistro Award. The musical play has won an IRNE Award, among other honors. And Peterson, of course, stars on the "George M. Cohan Tonight!" original cast album (Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records). "We're hoping that 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' will likewise have legs. I hope to see Jon playing both of these roles, as opportunities arise, for many years to come."

Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was the most successful single songwriter in history. He wrote more hits and made more money than any of his competitors. Deffaa--perhaps the foremost living authority on Berlin's career--has written five different shows about Berlin, for different cast sizes, and has produced many albums of Berlin's music. Jon Peterson has been featured on such albums of Deffaa's as "Irving Berlin Revisited" and "Irving Berlin Rediscovered." And will be heard on more to come in the Berlin series.

"We'll be using Berlin's songs - more than two dozen of them - to help tell his life story," Deffaa says. "We'll include some Berlin songs that are famous, plus some other, equally intriguing Berlin songs that will be brand new to most people."