Review: Hershey Felder Magnificently Channels Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the critically-acclaimed Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO from August 10 - 28. Felder channels the great composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, drawing audiences deeply into the maestro's fascinating life filled with tragedy, triumph, and extraordinary music. The Wallis' production marks the final West Coast engagement prior to a highly-anticipated transfer to New York City's 59E59 Theaters from August 31 - October 16, 2016. A Special One-Night-Only Audience Sing-Along will take place on August 22.

Leonard Bernstein was a conductor, pianist, author, educator, librettist, television star, and the composer of symphonies, iconic film scores and the American musical classics West Side Story, Candide, On the Town and Wonderful Town, among others. In Felder's sure hands, we are led through Bernstein's life as he pushes boundaries to become the world's first serious musical media superstar who changed the face of music. In his inimitable artistic style, Hershey Felder brings Bernstein to life through first-person narratives describing the inspirations for his own work as well as those of his musical idols including Beethoven, Mahler, Wagner, Copeland, and more, emphasizing each with their headshot projected on the screen above him seated at the keyboards as he plays their most well-known work. It's an eye-opening journey into Bernstein's life from his early years as a "good little Jewish boy" striving to gain approval from his conservative parents to the most well-known composer/conductor of the mid-20th Century.

It's easy to understand why after experiencing Felder's ability to keep a story flowing through his incredible impersonations and skill as both a composer, singer and pianist who excellently knows how to best utilize his glorious voice and keyboard skills, with media projections designed by Christopher Ash to hook his dreams into reality. Like me, the audience was enthralled from start to finish - just as you will be!

Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO continues at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts through August 28, 2016 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings at 8 pm, and Saturdays at 3 pm and 8 pm; Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. Be ready to enjoy Felder's most excellent play with music as he keeps the audience's full attention onstage for the entire running time of 1 hour and 45 mins with no intermission, directed by Joel Zwick whose illustrious career includes directing My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, as well as one of Hollywood's most prolific directors of episodic television currently directing for the Disney Channel.

Reserved seat ticketing for Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO are available for $25 - $85 and for Hershey Felder's The Great American Songbook Sing-Along for $20 - $50 for it's one night show on August 22. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit TheWallis.org, call 310.746.4000, or stop by in person at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Services located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. See it now before the show hits the road to New York.

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