HERSHEY FELDER, BEETHOVEN Shatters Records at TheatreWorks

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley announced today that its acclaimed current production, Hershey Felder, Beethoven, has established a new all-time box office record for the 48 year-old Bay Area theatre company - and it is not even halfway through its scheduled run.

This newly revised work by acclaimed performer and playwright Hershey Felder has shattered the theatre's previous record, which was set last year with TheatreWorks' presentation of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Staged in January-February 2016, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin set a high bar as the company's highest grossing show by far, with nearly $810,000 in sales.

Says Felder, "Irving Berlin captured the voice of America and its people, and it is befitting that he is so beloved. Beethoven, with so much going against him, his deafness and physical ailments, his loneliness, a complicated living situation, he captured the human spirit, and with a work like the 'Ninth Symphony,' the eternal hope of mankind. It is wonderful to see that he is appreciated to that degree."

Now entering the third week of its run, Hershey Felder, Beethoven has already grossed approximately $820,000. The production has extended through July 9, with performances Tuesdays through Sundays at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (500 Castro St., Mountain View). For tickets ($45-$105) and information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

In this critically-lauded show, Felder brings Ludwig van Beethoven to life through the eyes of a Viennese doctor who spent his boyhood by the Maestro's side. The Mercury News hailed this compelling portrait of the beloved composer as "A towering performance. Superb. On a scale of 1 to 10, this is an 11." The Palo Alto Weekly called Hershey Felder, Beethoven "rapturous and exhilarating" and Talkin' Broadway declared it is a performance "that is not to be missed."

American Theatre Magazine has described Hershey Felder as "a seductive portraitist, compelling storyteller, and superb concert pianist. In a category all his own, 'musical biographies' does not come close to suggesting what he does." Felder commands the profound musical understanding to bring Beethoven to life, offering an enthralling performance that has satisfied musical experts, as well as captivated audience members with little background in classical music. Featuring some of the composer's greatest works, from "Moonlight Sonata" to the "Ninth Symphony" and the "Emperor Concerto," Hershey Felder, Beethoven offers an intense, illuminating, unforgettable journey through time, immersing audiences in the astounding life of the Maestro.

With some 100,000 patrons per year, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has captured a national reputation for artistic innovation and integrity, often presenting Bay Area theatregoers with their first look at acclaimed musicals, comedies, and dramas, directed by award-winning local and guest directors, and performed by professional actors cast locally and from across the country.

Photo Credit: Christopher Ash