Asolo Rep Presents Hershey Felder in GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE and MAESTRO: THE ART OF LEONARD BERNSTEIN

2011)-Asolo Repertory Theatre is thrilled to present Hershey Felder in two masterpiece productions: George Gershwin Alone from May 18-June 5, 2011 and MAESTRO: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, by special engagement from June 8-12.

Hershey Felder is cheered by audiences around the world, and honored with rave reviews and accolades for his productions. He has performed George Gershwin Alone over 2,750 times worldwide and won the Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical. Recently, George Gershwin Alone was broadcast live globally via radio on May 2, 2011, from the Pasadena Playhouse to celebrate the 10th anniversary presentation of the production.

George Gershwin Alone features music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, a script by Felder and direction by Joel Zwick. It includes such songs as "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," and passages from "An American in Paris" and Porgy and Bess, and culminates in a performance MAESTRO: The Art of Leonard Bernstein is a new work from the creators of George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin and Beethoven, As I Knew Him With a story spanning the entire twentieth century, Leonard Bernstein, America's greatest musician, broke through every artistic ceiling possible to become the world's musical ambassador. Conductor, composer, pianist, author, teacher, librettist, television star...for Leonard Bernstein boundaries simply did not exist. Join us on this fascinating journey as Hershey Felder brings to life the composer of West Side Story, Candide, Mass and more. Now Gulf Coast audiences can experience these two Hershey Felder masterworks back-to-back as he performs them on the Asolo Rep mainstage, the Mertz Theatre, a painstakingly restored 1900s former Scottish opera house with state-of-the-art sound and a unique Victorian ambiance. This is a special engagement with a limited number of performances; purchase tickets early for best seating. The Boston Herald called George Gershwin Alone "S'Wonderful!" and the NY Daily News called it "Stunning! Dazzling! Sheer Genius!"

The Chicago Sun-Times dubbed Maestro "Emotionally charged and glorious. Felder conjoins the worlds of high art and popular entertainment in a way that few others can even think of."

Hershey Felder (George Gershwin/Leonard Bernstein/Playwright) Broadway, London's West End: George Gershwin Alone (Helen Hayes Theatre, Duchess Theatre). Regional and international appearances of Composers Sonata 1999 - 2011 - George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven, As I Knew Him, and Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein - include Old Globe Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Geffen Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, American Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, Ravinia Festival, Chicago's Royal George Theatre, Prince Music Theatre (Philadelphia), The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Uijeongbu Theatre Festival (South Korea) and many others. Command Performance of Monsieur Chopin for the Polish Ambassador to the United States, Polish Embassy, Washington. Winner of 2007 Los Angeles Ovation Awards, Best Musical and Best Actor for George Gershwin Alone.

Compositions include Aliyah, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra; Fairytale, a musical; Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano; Song Settings, poetry by Vachel Lindsay; Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra; Etudes Thematiques for Piano; Nine Hours on Tenth: The Unknown Story of Lincoln's Last Day for actor and orchestra. Recordings include Love Songs of the Yiddish Theatre, Back from Broadway, George Gershwin Alone and Monsieur Chopin for the WFMT Radio Network Recordings label, Beethoven, As I Knew Him for the Eighty Eight Entertainment label. Worldwide live broadcasts, George Gershwin Alone, July 2005 and May 2011. Current projects include a new musical, An American Story, which had its world premiere in Los Angeles in November 2009. It was recorded with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, comprised of members of the Chicago Symphony and Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestras and conducted by Alan Heatherington. Mr. Felder has been a Scholar in Residence at Harvard University's Department of Music and is married to Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada.

For more information about George Gershwin Alone visit the show website at http://www.gershwinalone.com/home/Home02.html.

Sponsors: Michael's On East, SNN Local News 6, WSMR and Comcast

Co-Producers: Edward and June LeBell Alley, Jim and Susan Buck, Irene Chrisman, Gershom R. Cohn,
Donald and Karen Grierson, Jules and Sheila Rose, Mike and Renee Silverstein, Florence E. White, Betty Schoenbaum, Bob and Joyce Tate.

In Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre at 5555 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida. Free Parking.

Single Tickets: $17 to $65, depending on the show, day/time/seating, and method of purchase.

Groups: 10+ save from 20% to 30%; call 941-351-9010 ext. 6013 or group_sales@asolo.org

Contact: Box office at 941-351-8000 or toll-free at 800-361-8388, or www.AsoloRep.org.