Photos: Hershey Felder in THE PIANO & ME at Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa Barbara

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC) and HFP LIVE are presenting the Southern California premiere of Hershey Felder starring in a new play, THE PIANO & ME, with book by Hershey Felder and dramaturgy by Jerry Patch. Check out photos below!

This newest work is scheduled to open off-Broadway in New York following the ETC premiere. The production will run through Sunday, May 10 at the New Vic Theatre, 33 Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Known for his hit portrayals of musical geniuses in his beloved composer series, Felder now renders a different musical artist: himself. In this deeply moving new play, Felder pulls back the curtain on his own story. Growing up in Montreal as the child of Polish and Hungarian immigrants, a young Felder discovers the piano, its captivating music connecting him to his unsuspected heritage, while opening up a remarkable new world full of adventure, possibility, heartbreak, and connection. 

Featuring performances of beloved compositions by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Bartók, and more, Hershey Felder: THE PIANO & ME recounts the inspiration behind Felder's illustrious career of more than 6,000 performances across the globe and offers a poignant and profoundly touching portrait of the power of music. Santa Barbara audiences have a rare opportunity to experience this celebrated production on its world premiere tour before it makes its off-Broadway debut in New York City in July 2026.