HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN to Open Arizona Theatre Company 2015-16 Season

Quintessential American songwriter Irving Berlin left an indelible mark on the classic American songbook with hits like "White Christmas," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "There's No Business Like Show Business" and, of course, "God Bless America." Arizona Theatre Company brings Berlin's story to vibrant, toe-tapping life in the 2015-16 season-opening production of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Sept. 16-Oct. 4 at the Temple of Music and Art, 333 S. Scott Ave. in Tucson.

I. Michael and Beth Kasser are Arizona Theatre Company's 2015-16 Season Sponsors. Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin is sponsored by BFC BeachFleischman.

From the depths of Czarist Russia, to New York's Lower East Side, and ultimately all of America and the world, Irving Berlin's story epitomizes the American dream. Felder, a bravura performer, compelling storyteller, and superb concert pianist, returns to ATC in another tour-de-force. This time, Felder brings to life the remarkable story of "America's Composer." Featuring Berlin's most popular and enduring songs, Felder's performance makes this evening an unforgettable an indelibly entertaining journey.

"That indefatigable purveyor of composers Felder now applies his singular blend of musical biography, character study and piano virtuosity toward the iconic songwriter about whom Jerome Kern famously said, 'Irving Berlin has no place in American music -- he is American music,' wrote the Los Angeles Times. Broadway World raved about the premiere last year, writing that Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin is "enriching, humorous and replete with the brilliant Berlin tunes ... you do not want to miss a delicious moment of it!"

Felder previously performed George Gershwin Alone and Monsieur Chopin for ATC, both during the 2007-08 season, and later as Beethoven As I Knew Him in 2008-09.

"Our audiences in Arizona have a love affair with Hershey, and he assures me the feelings are mutual," said ATC Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein. "When Hershey told me he was creating a new show about one of my favorite composers, I rushed to see the premiere engagement and immediately told Hershey we must have him back in Tucson and Phoenix. Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin is a master entertainer at the top of his game. My favorite Berlin song is 'Always.' What's yours?"

Single ticket prices range from $23 to 68.

In a special sing-along performance at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, Felder will

engage the audience to join him in singing some of Berlin's most memorable tunes. Separate tickets are required. Single-tickets are $46 until Sept. 1 when the price increases to $52. Tickets can be purchased at www.arizonatheatre.org.

Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin will be followed by the Arizona premiere of Ayad Akhtar's scintillating hit Broadway play, Disgraced (Oct. 17-Nov. 7). Stephen Schwartz's new musical, Snapshots (Nov. 29-Dec. 19), brings some of his favorite songs into a new context wrapped in a story filled with humanity and family. Two great American classics follow with August Wilson's masterpiece Fences (Jan. 16, 2016-Feb. 2) featuring favorite ATC artists, and John Steinbeck's classic tale of friendship in hard circumstances, Of Mice and Men (March 5-26). In between, is a special presentation of the recent off-Broadway hit Sex With Strangers (Feb. 11-21) in a unique collaboration with ATC and popular Phoenix-based theatre company Stray Cat Theatre.

ATC's 2015-16 season comes to a sparkling close with the witty Arizona premiere of Scott Carter's new play, The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord (April 9-30).

For more information call (520) 622-2823 or visit www.arizonatheatre.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.