‘S WONDERFUL Comes To The Friend Center for the Arts 1/29-30

The Friend Center for the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) proudly presents the new Gershwin Musical, ‘S Wonderful, for two performances only on Saturday January 29 at 8 pm, and Sunday, January 30 at 2 pm. Part of a critically-acclaimed national tour, this is an exclusive Bay Area engagement, and is presented in loving memory of Eugene Friend, the Center's founding donor.

An all singing, all dancing, musical revue, 'S Wonderful pays tribute to the incomparable songbook of George and Ira Gershwin. The show features over 40 classic hits such as "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "Shall We Dance", "Someone to Watch Over Me.", and "Rhapsody in Blue," and paints a nostalgic picture of a particular era in entertainment.

Incorporating 5 mini-musicals inspired by the real events occurring in and around the lives of the Gershwin brothers, this newmusical theater revue illustrates their impact on the world then and now. First it's New York City in 1916 and Paris in the 1930s, followed by Hollywood in the 40s and New Orleans in the 50s. 'S Wonderful takes the audience to the different places, times and musical styles that made the Gershwin brothers one of the most successful songwriting team in the history of popular music.

Under the direction of Ray Roderick, musical direction of Richard Hip-Flores and choreography of Vince Pesce, the talented cast of 5 singer/dancer/actors bring the music of the Gershwin brothers to life. The tour is presented by Maximum Entertainment Productions and producers Todd Gerswhin and Dan Chilewich of Premiere Media. The Gershwin families have authorized the use of the Gershwin songbook, making ‘S Wonderful a brand new, all-inclusive Gershwin musical.

George Gershwin (1898-1937) born in Brooklyn, New York on September 26, 1898, began his musical training at thirteen. in 1924, when George teamed up with his older brother Ira, The Gershwins became the dominant Broadway songwriters, creating such musical comedy hits such as Lady, Be Good! (1924), Oh, Kay! (1926), Funny Face (1927) and Of Thee I Sing (1931), the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer Prize. Starting with his early days as a composer of songs, Gershwin had composed classics such as "Rhapsody in Blue" (1924), "Concerto in F" (1925) and "An American in Paris" (1928). The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (co-written with DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin) was the Gershwin brothers' most ambitious undertaking, tightly integrating unforgettable songs with dramatic incident. In 1937, George Gershwin was at the height of his career. It was in Hollywood, while he wasworking on the score of The Goldwyn Follies, that George collapsed and died of a brain tumor; he was not quite 39 years old.

Ira Gershwin (1896-1983), the first songwriter to receive a Pulitzer Prize (for "Of Thee I Sing" 1932), wrote hundreds of songs for Broadway and Hollywood with his brother George. He also collaborated with other major composers, including Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Arthur Schwartz, Kurt Weill, Harry Warren, Burton Lane, Aaron Copland, and Vernon Duke. During his career, Gershwin was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Song ("They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Long Ago (and Far Away)," and "The Man That Got Away"). He took great pride in his contributions to the now-classic opera, Porgy and Bess (1935), and in his acclaimed book, Lyrics on Several Occasions (1959), an annotated compendium on his lyrics.

The JCCSF, located at 3200 California Street (at Presidio), has been serving the Bay Area since 1877 with programs that transform people's lives - mind, body and spirit. A home away from home for San Franciscans of all faiths and backgrounds, the JCCSF welcomes more than 5,000 guests each day, presenting them with world-class cultural events, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and hundreds of inspiring educational, recreational and social programs. Programs are made possible through generous community support, enabling the JCCSF to provide free and low-cost programs as well as generous financial assistance - ensuring that the Center is accessible, welcoming and nurturing to all. For more information about the JCCSF, visit www.jccsf.org.

Tickets priced from $50 - $60 may be purchased through the JCCSF Box Office at 415/292-1233 or online at www.jccsf.org/arts.

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