Gershwin, Chopin Shows to Conclude Geffen Playhouse Season

The Geffen Playhouse will conclude its 2006/2007 season with George Gershwin Alone, written and performed by actor, playwright and Steinway Concert Artist Hershey Felder (composer, Fairytale, a musical; Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano). With direction by Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Fat Albert), Felder evokes Gershwin's persona and performs his music in George Gershwin Alone, June 5 through July 22, 2007. The show will be the final "rondo" movement in Felder and Zwick's trilogy of musical plays highlighting the lives and works of great composers, along with Monsieur Chopin, which receives its Los Angeles debut in a limited run beginning August 9, 2007, and the forthcoming World premiere of Beethoven, As I Knew Him in May 2008.

Press notes state, "Recreating key moments in George Gershwin's life through song and spoken word, George Gershwin Alone features a look behind some of the composer's most famous works, culminating with Felder's solo rendition of Gershwin's A Rhapsody in Blue.  Since its Los Angeles workshop productions in 1999, George Gershwin Alone has been performed more than 2,500 times worldwide including numerous record-breaking runs. Following the Los Angeles and Broadway presentations in 2000-2001, George Gershwin Alone evolved into a longer presentation with additional material, audience involvement and the now famous "Gershwin Party."  After extensive research through Gershwin's personal items at the Library of Congress and learning keyboard techniques used by the composer himself, Felder is the only individual to whom the Gershwin heirs have granted permission to create the role of George Gershwin for the stage."

Press releases continue, "Monsieur Chopin, the romantic middle movement of Felder's composer trilogy, features the story and elegant piano music of Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849).  Based on an actual piano lesson occurring in Paris on March 4, 1848, Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin reveals secrets about the art of the piano and composition to his students, as well as secrets about himself.   Felder's studies on Chopin have taken him to the composer's residences and locales of composition, plus in-depth examinations of the composer's life and manuscripts, and general period history. Included in the creative process is a scholarly relationship with the United States' foremost author and professor of Chopin Studies, Dr. Jeffrey Kallberg, a Professor of Music and Chairman of the Music Department at the University of Pennsylvania."

George Gershwin Alone's Creative Team includes Yael Pardess (scenic design), Michael T. Gilliam (lighting design), Jon Gottlieb (sound design), Matt Marsden (technical director), Tamora Wilson (master electrician), and Gigi Garcia (production stage manager). Monsieur Chopin's creative team includes Yael Pardess (scenic design), Richard Norwood (lighting design), Benjamin Furiga (sound design), Matt Marsden (technical director), Tamora Wilson (master electrician), and Gigi Garcia (production stage manager).

George Gershwin Alone runs June 5 through July 22, 2007, with previews June 5 – June 12. Opening night is June 13, and a sign interpreted performance is Sunday, July 1, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.  Monsieur Chopin runs August 9, 2007 through August 19, 2007.

Geffen Playhouse is located at 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA, 90024. Tickets ($55) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May and Ritmo Latino locations), or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.365.3500. Eight performances are scheduled per week for George Gershwin Alone: Tuesday through Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Fridays at 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Performance schedules for Monsieur Chopin are TBD.  Adult rush tickets ($35) and student rush tickets ($15) are available 10 minutes prior to curtain. For more information, call 310.208.5454, or visit GeffenPlayhouse.com.

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