Pasadena Now went one-on-one with actor Hershey Felder onstage on the Pasadena Playhouse set of his new play telling the remarkable story of the magical life of Irving Berlin just hours before the first performance yesterday.

Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Photo Credit: Eighty Eight Entertainment

Hershey Felder brings to life the remarkable story of Irving Berlin, “America’s Composer,” in a critically-acclaimed hit direct from New York’s Town Hall, that opened last night at the Pasadena Playhouse and runs through August 17.

Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin is the musical story of an immigrant boy who gave the country its voice.

From the depths of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia to New York’s Lower East Side, and ultimately all of America and the world, Berlin’s story epitomizes the American Dream.

Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs from “God Bless America” and “Always” to “White Christmas” and beyond, Hershey’s masterful creation of character and musical performance is an unforgettable journey. As Jerome Kern famously said, “Irving Berlin has no place in American music – he is American music.”

Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse, says, “Hershey has appeared in various guises several times on the stage of The Playhouse. The success of those previous engagements has made for consistent requests for his return to our venue. I am pleased to welcome him back to our stage, this time recreating the persona and the work of one of America’s greatest and most popular songwriters. The ‘Cheek to Cheek’ combination of Mr. Berlin and Mr. Felder filling our summer nights with their distinctive music will, I am sure, take our audience to Heaven!”

Hershey Felder adds, “The Pasadena Playhouse is a national treasure and historic theatre with lovely acoustics. Being in that space and sharing the music and story of America’s greatest songwriter – with a very special audience – will be a way to go back in time to the Hollywood and New York of a very magical time.”

The director is Trevor Hay, who collaborated with performer/creator Hershey Felder, on An American Story, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt and The Pianist of Willesden Lane. The new play with music features lyrics and music by Irving Berlin and book by Hershey Felder.

Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin has received critical acclaim nationwide. “Felder is the impresario whose relationship with audiences is long-standing intimate and mutually adoring. Felder does his good guy proud,” said Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune and “Absolutely Dazzling,” raves The Huffington Post.

David C. Nichols of the Los Angeles Times, who designated the production a Critics’ Choice says, “That indefatigable purveyor of composers, Hershey Felder, applies his singular blend of musical biography, character study and piano virtuosity toward the iconic songwriter. The empathy, showmanship and craft on tap may just be the best match of historical figure and performing artist yet.”

The creative team for Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin includes Hershey Felder and Trevor Hay (Scenic Design), Richard Norwood (Lighting Design), Andrew Wilder and Lawrence Siefert (Projection Design), and Erik Carstensen (Sound Design & Production Manager). The show is produced by Eva Price, Samantha F. Voxakis and Karen Racanelli.

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Wednesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the first two weeks of the engagement, priced from $22.00 to $102.00, are available online at PasadenaPlayhouse.org; by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at (626) 356-7529; or visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday – Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Wednesday – Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets for the final week of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin will go on sale at a later date. For more information, visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Biographies:

Hershey Felder (Irving Berlin/Playwright/Scenic Co-Design) Mr. Felder created and performed George Gershwin Alone, which played on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre, in the West End at the Duchess Theatre, and in theatres around the country. His Composers Sonata—George Gershwin Alone; Monsieur Chopin; Beethoven, As I Knew Him; Maestro Bernstein; Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin—has been presented at dozens of theatres across the U.S. and around the world. His compositions and recordings include Aliyah, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra; Fairytale, a musical; Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano; Song Settings; Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra; Etudes Thematiques for Piano; and An American Story for Actor and Orchestra. As director, he premiered Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane at the Geffen Playhouse in 2012 and produced and created scenic design for Taylor Hackford’s Louis and Keely ‘Live’ at the Sahara. Mr. Felder has been a scholar-in-residence at Harvard University’s Department of Music and is married to Kim Campbell, the first female Prime Minister of Canada.

Trevor Hay (Director/Scenic Co-Design) directed the world premieres of An American Story For Actor and Orchestra, Abe Lincoln’s Piano and Hershey Felder As Franz Liszt In Musik. He is Associate Director for Mona Golabek’s The Pianist of Willesden Lane. Former member of the historic Old Globe Theatre in San Diego where, at the age of nine, his first position was selling Old Globe memorabilia. Over the next 32 years, Mr. Hay went on to various aspects of production on more than 80 presentations, including the Broadway productions of Jack O’Brien’s Damn Yankees, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and Twyla Tharpe’s The Times They Are A-Changin’. Included in his 23 seasons at the Old Globe were eleven seasons of the Summer Shakespeare Festival Repertory, as well as work on Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County, directed by Sam Gold, and Hershey Felder’s George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin and Maestro Bernstein.