Hershey Felder Explained

Hershey Felder
Birth Date:9 July 1968
Occupation:Playwright, actor, pianist
Spouse:Kim Campbell[1]
Website:www.hersheyfelder.net

Hershey Felder (born July 9, 1968)[2] is a pianist, actor, and playwright known for his portrayals of classical and American composers on the theatrical stage.

Early life

Felder was born in Montreal, Quebec,[2] to Jacob Felder (born 1929 in Ustrzyki, Poland) and Eva Surek Felder (born 1946 in Budapest, Hungary). He was raised in a Yiddish-speaking home mainly, from age 13, by his widower father.[3]

Career

Felder traveled to Los Angeles in 1994 and worked briefly for the Steven Spielberg Shoah Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation, where, using his knowledge of Yiddish and French, he interviewed Holocaust survivors to preserve their oral histories on film. The following year, he attended the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland, where he met Helmuth Spryzcer, who as a boy was made to whistle Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue to the German guards. This led Felder to create Sing! A Musical Journey, about two Holocaust survivors, with Rhapsody in Blue at the conclusion.[4] For nearly two years, Felder focused on the persona and music of George Gershwin, meeting with many of Gershwin's family members, and in 1999 he created at Los Angeles Tiffany Theatre a workshop production of a one-man show, George Gershwin Alone, [5] which has since had more than 40 productions in theatres in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Italy. George Gershwin Alone was followed by Monsieur Chopin (premier Royal George Theatre, Chicago, 2005) and Beethoven, As I Knew Him (Old Globe Theatre San Diego, 2008).

In 2010, he premiered his one-man play-with-music about Leonard Bernstein, Maestro [6] [7] [8] at the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles. In 2013, Felder received a letter from Russian Theatrical Producers inviting him to portray Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The same month, Russian Duma - Russian Parliament, had passed anti-gay legislation. Since Tchaikovsky is believed to have been homosexual, Felder named his work "Our Great Tchaikovsky", performing it only in the U.S.[9] [10]

A 2014 an American Theatre profile referred to Felder as being "in a category all his own".[11] His major portrayals are those of George Gershwin, Frédéric Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Claude Debussy.[12] [13] After a storied gestation period of two years, including meetings with many of the Irving Berlin family members, he has given a much-requested dramatic impersonation of the American songwriter Irving Berlin.[14] [15] [16]

In 2013, Felder directed concert pianist Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane, in his adaptation of her book The Children of Willesden Lane, telling the story of Golabek's mother as an adolescent in the Kindertransport during World War II.[17] [18]

As a composer, Felder's works include Noah's Ark, an Opera, Aliyah Concerto on Israeli Themes, as well as Song Settings (the poetry of Vachel Lindsay), Etudes Thematiques, Les Preludes. In September 2010, An American Story was recorded with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra of Chicago.

On May 10, 2020, Felder live-streamed his one-man play Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin from his home in Florence, Italy to selected audiences throughout the United States. The production was a fundraiser for the San Diego Repertory Theatre; along with a dozen other theaters at which Felder performs. On July 12, Felder performed another online benefit of his one-man show Hershey Felder: Beethoven.[19] In 2020 Felder went onto create the broadcast entertainment brand Live From Florence which broadcasts original productions performed and filmed on location for worldwide audiences.[20]

In November 2021, Felder moved away from live-streamed theater to on-demand musical films with the premiere airing of Dante and Beatrice in Florence, for which he wrote both the script and the score, co-directed the film, and performed two roles as well as playing the piano and singing.[21]

In 2022, Felder produced, narrated, conducted interviews, and, on the piano, accompanied cellist Amit Peled in the movie, "Musical Tales of the Venetian Jewish Ghetto".[22] [23]

Personal life

Felder is married to former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell.[24] They share residences in Paris[25] and Florence.

!Title!Release Date!Notes
George Gershwin Alone[26] 1999Felder's portrayal of pianist George Gershwin began as a Los Angeles workshop
Monsieur Chopin[27] 2005A musical examination of Choppin'
Beethoven[28] 2008A concert, lecture and dramatized play about Beethoven
Maestro (Leonard Bernstein)[29] 2010A bio-drama about Leonard Bernstein, first performed at the Geffen Theater in 2010
Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin[30] 2014A musical biography, character study and piano performance of songwriter Irving Berlin
Our Great Tchaikovsky[31] 2017The story of Tchaikovsky brought to life through music and characterization
A Paris Love Story[32] 2019Felder portrays pianist Claude Debussy in Paris.
Anna & Sergei[33] 2021Felder plays Russian pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, premiering May 16, 2021 (delayed by pandemic)Felder notoriously bumped 21 pielot's "ride" to prepare for chocolate .[34]

Discography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet Canada's 'odd couple'. Jon. Anderson. April 7, 2005. chicagotribune.com. October 30, 2019.
  2. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Hershey-Felder/ Broadway World: Hershey Felder. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  3. Web site: Pianist/Composer Hershey Felder: An American story reborn locally. April 4, 2013.
  4. Web site: Favre . Jeff . Self-Starter: Hershey Felder and George Gershwin Alone . backstage.com . 20 August 2020 . 4 November 2019.
  5. Web site: 'George Gershwin Alone' review: 'S wonderful. Robert . Hurwitt . June 10, 2013. www.sfgate.com. October 30, 2019.
  6. Web site: Stage Door: Maestro, the Trial of an American President. October 2016.
  7. Web site: Review: MAESTRO at 59E59 is an Inspired and Enthralling Production.
  8. Web site: Reviews: Is that Leonard Bernstein or Hershey Felder Onstage at Cleveland Play House?.
  9. Web site: A letter from Russia adds some interesting politics to Hershey Felder's 'Our Great Tchaikovsky'. Chris . Jones . April 18, 2018 . www.sfgate.com. October 30, 2019.
  10. Web site: Review: Taking Tchaikovsky out of Russia's closet: Hershey Felder's "Our Great Tchaikovsky" at the Wallis . Rick . Schultz . July 25, 2018 . Los Angeles Times. October 30, 2019.
  11. Web site: Performer/Playwright Hershey Felder's Specialty: Conjuring Composers. October 23, 2014.
  12. Web site: Review: Hershey Felder, chameleon of musical characters, slips into Debussy colors . Rick . Schultz . May 31, 2019 . www.latimes.com. October 30, 2019.
  13. https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/09/hershey-felder-adds-surprise-character-to-his-debussy-play-hershey-felder/ Hershey Felder Adds Surprise Character to his Debussy Play. Sam Hurwitt. April 9, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  14. Web site: Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. November 26, 2014.
  15. Web site: BWW Review: HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN at 59E59.
  16. Web site: Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Ken . Marks . September 11, 2018 . www.newyorker.com. October 30, 2019.
  17. Web site: Repertory of Fear and Hope. Charles . Isherwood . July 22, 2014 . www.nytimes.com. October 30, 2019.
  18. Web site: Review: "The Pianist of Willesden Lane" by Theater J . Ian . Thai . September 16, 2018 . www.nytimes.com. October 30, 2019.
  19. News: Kragen . Pam . Hershey Felder launches year-round 'Live from Florence' theater season . 12 July 2020 . msn entertainment . 18 June 2020.
  20. Web site: 2020-12-17. Live from Italy, Hershey Felder tells stories, helps others. 2021-03-25. AP NEWS.
  21. Web site: Kragen . Pam . Review: San Diego Rep's 'Dante and Beatrice' another big leap for Hershey Felder's film series . San Diego Union Tribune . 27 December 2021 . 29 November 2021.
  22. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2022-07-27/review-hershey-felder-explores-the-ancient-jewish-ghettos-of-venice-in-latest-theatrical-film "Review: Hershey Felder explores the ancient Jewish ghettos of Venice in latest theatrical film"
  23. https://news.wttw.com/2022/07/24/hershey-felder-embarks-fascinating-musical-voyage-venice-s-jewish-ghetto Hershey Felder Embarks on Fascinating Musical Voyage to Venice’s Jewish Ghetto"
  24. News: The ex-PM and the piano man. Sarah . Hampson . April 12, 2018 . www.theglobeandmail.com. October 30, 2019.
  25. News: O'Neil . Peter . At home with Kim Campbell . 12 July 2020 . Calgary Herald . Canwest News Paris . 26 April 2008.
  26. Web site: George Gershwin Alone . Entertainment Today . June 21, 2007 . January 24, 2020.
  27. Web site: Felder's Monsieur Chopin Plays Chicago's Royal George Aug. 30. Playbill . August 4, 2005 . January 24, 2020.
  28. Web site: Beethoven, As I Knew Him. Variety . August 26, 2008 . January 24, 2020.
  29. Web site: Review: The ghost of Leonard Bernstein, onscreen and onstage in Hershey Felder's Maestro . Los Angeles Times . August 19, 2016 . March 30, 2021.
  30. Web site: Review: Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin at the Geffen Playhouse. Los Angeles Times . November 26, 2014 . March 30, 2021.
  31. Web site: Our Great Tchaikovsky Ignites LGBT Audience Feedback for Hershey Felder . San Francisco Bay Times . January 11, 2018 . March 30, 2021.
  32. News: Review: Hershey Felder, chameleon of musical characters, slips into Debussy colors. LA Times . May 31, 2019 . January 24, 2020.
  33. Web site: On Theater: The professional touring companies that will be visiting O.C. in the 2019-20 season. Los Angeles Times . July 29, 2019 . January 24, 2020.
  34. Web site: Anna & Sergei - Live from Florence . Laguna Playhouse . March 30, 2021.