Geffen Playhouse - Main Stage (Los Angeles, CA)
George Gershwin Alone re-creates the important moments in the composer's life, telling the story behind his most famous works. A Steinway Concert Artist, actor and playwright, Hershey Felder is the only person to whom the Gershwin heirs have granted permission to create the role of George Gershwin on stage. The show has dazzled audiences across America, including on Broadway, and in London's West End.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
All dates for this event have expired.
The last event was Friday July 6, 2007 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
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Loved it, Loved It, LOVED IT!!!! As a matter of fact, will buy tickets to see it again before it goes. Hershey Felder is not only a great pianist, actor, but a great natural comedian! Can't wait to see him doing, Chopin. Best live theatre performance I have seen this year. Wicked can not hold a candle to Gershwin alone. Congratulations to the Geffen for making this possible.
Luis Orellana
lusiorellana@hotmail.com
Hershey Felder entertains and educates. First, he is an excellent pianist. I loved his rendition of "Rhapsody in Blue". Second, he's a good singer. Third, he's a wonderful story teller. Fourth, he conducts his audience at the end of the show in a Gershwin sing-a-long. All that adds up to a wonderful evening. I hope Goldstar will handle tickets to his program in August focused on Chopin. I plan to be there.
An enjoyable evening. I was impressed by Mr. Feldman's facility and energy in handling both a non-stop speaking role and a demanding musical performance rolled into one. The main drawback was the lack of an intermission in this 1.75-hr. show. Toward the end, a number of women (myself included) had to unfortunately disturb other theatre-goers in our rows by exiting prematurely to go to the ladies' room.
It was amazing! His acting, his voice, his brilliant rendition of Gershwin's music on the Piano! He is going to be doing the same kind of presentation about Chopin and we are planning to attend. Thanks for
giving us the opportunity to enjoy this event!
Clara Kohen-Klieman
If you love Gershwin music you will love Hershey Felder's intimate look into the mind of a genius. His storytelling channels the spirit of the great composer and offers insight into his life and the meaning of his music. The show is short and sweet and features a '30's style "sing at the piano" featuring audience participation to close the show.
According to Felder, Gershwin did not get good reviews during his lifetime. Let this critic try to change that record.
All that amazing music; what's not to love? Hershey Felder is charming and multi-talented. He's created a believable George Gershwin: he tells the story engagingly, sings pleasantly and plays beautifully. I especially appreciated his insights into the structure of Gershwin's music. Felder follows the play with an audience participation sing-along which he handles with grace and humor.
At the risk of being run out of town... It was OK. It wasn't great. The Leisure World set will love the sing-along and our audience was mostly that group. I love Gershwin, I'm not some kid. It's part schmaltz, no heavy theatre here. To the untrained ear Hershey Felder's a master, to those who know better, he should play Rhapsody in Blue MUCH MUCH better after so many performances (this is not a new show). For 1/2 price it's great. At full-price I would have felt ripped off.
Hershey Felder is absolutely brilliant. His knowledge of Gershwin's life and times is so encylopedic, he might as well be Gershwin. He's a fine actor. His piano playing is top notch. And his spontaneous interaction with the audience after the actual "play" portion of the show ended, was funny and heartwarming.
The performer was charming and made it seem like the whole audience was special to him. He was also an excellent musician and played the piano beautifully. His voice was perfect for the role. The most enjoyable part was at the end when he took requests (out of character) and we all sang along with him. It was a very special evening. Thank you for making it possible.
The seats at the Geffen are pretty awful -- cramped doesn't begin to describe it. It's very much like flying coach, tight and unaccommodating. However, the show was wonderful and entertaining and I soon forgot my discomfort. The only objections I had to the piece were his musical phrasing when he sang, which was peculiar and off-putting, and the choice to play all of "Rhapsody in Blue" at the end, when people were kind of ready to wrap it up. It's such a long piece that I found myself silently begging for the ending.
I loved the sing-along, which I previously feared. I actually thought it was a highlight of the night.
The man is obviously extremely talented and charming and did Gershwin and Gershwin fans proud.
Seats were perfect..very entertaining
Excellent seat. 6th row center. Great Performance
A beautiful performance. I can only recommend.
What a fun evening! Thoroughly entertaining.
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Excellent show! One person but not boring at all. Mesmerizing music and fun sing-along... one of the best shows I've ever attended!
This was the best production. Can't wait to see Chopin...hope it's sold on Goldstar.
If you love Gershwin music you will love this performance
The audience could hardly wait to show their appreciation with a standing ovation
and the Goldstar seats were great!
This is the 8th time I've seen this show. It just keep getting better!
it was wonderful
The Geffen Playhouse is newly renovated, closing for over a year, and re-opening in November of 2005. The renovations are stunning, and provide for improved accoustics and sitelines. In addition to the Main Stage there is now the more intimate Audrey Skirball-Kenis Theater, which will focus on newer works for the Los Angeles community.
In just a few years, the Geffen Playhouse ha... More
George Gershwin, arguably "America's Mozart," died suddenly of a brain tumor at the age of 38, not knowing if his work would live on. With Hershey Felder's George Gershwin Alone, audiences will experience the bittersweet irony of Mr. Gershwin's interior life while reveling in the wonder of his music. A Steinway Concert Artist, actor and playwright, Hershey Felder is the only individual to whom the Gershwin heirs have granted permission to create the role of George Gershwin on the stage. The production has dazzled audiences across America, including on Broadway, and in London's West End.
George Gershwin Alone re-creates the more important moments in the composer's life, telling the story behind the composition of his most famous works. This musical treat is like a summer party at the Geffen, with the audience gathered around the piano listening to the Gershwins' greatest songs.
George Gershwin Alone is the third movement in a trilogy about composers by Hershey Felder entitled "The Composer Sonata." The first movement is Beethoven, the second is Monsieur Chopin.
Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Hershey Felder
Directed by Joel Zwick
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