George Gershwin Alone
Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Hershey Felder
With Hershey Felder as George Gershwin
Directed by Joel Zwick
Special Presentation · Thrust Stage
June 8–July 7, 2013
Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission
In George Gershwin Alone, the irresistible music of America’s favorite composer comes alive—along with exciting insights into his brief and brilliant life. Hershey Felder brings his hit show to Berkeley Rep after successful runs on Broadway, in London’s West End and in cities across the country. An accomplished pianist and performer, Felder was given full access to the Gershwin archives to create this tribute to the genius behind Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess. George Gershwin wrote hundreds of timeless tunes such as “I Got Rhythm,” “Summertime” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.” See George Gershwin Alone, and be captivated by the man and his music.
Creative team
Hershey Felder · Playwright
Joel Zwick · Director
Yael Pardess · Scenic Design
Michael T. Gilliam · Lighting Design
Jon Gottlieb · Original Sound Design
Margaret Hartmann · Lighting Director / Assistant Lighting Design
Kimberly Mark Webb · Stage Manager
Matt Marsden · Production Manager / Technical Director
Cast
Hershey Felder · George Gershwin
“Simply glorious…The incomparable genius of George Gershwin lights up Berkeley Rep…Felder’s show, which he’s been touring internationally since 2000—including Broadway and West End runs—is a cavalcade of immortal standards: “I Got Rhythm,” “The Man I Love,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” “‘S Wonderful,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” not to mention selections from Porgy and Bess, An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue…Felder is a terrific musician. His fingers fly over the keys with pinpoint precision and Gershwin-like dynamism…He enriches the presentation with enlightening musicology material as well…A delight from beginning to end.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“A heartfelt valentine to the American songbook that goes down as smoothly as a bourbon Manhattan with a bright red cherry on top. As a tuneful antidote to a weary world, George Gershwin Alone…is pretty darn close to s’wonderful…The mind-boggling depth and breadth of Gershwin’s catalog is reverently showcased here. Buoyantly directed by Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Gershwin zips along from the composer’s salad days to his biggest triumphs…He’s got rhythm, and he’s got music as he channels the genius of Gershwin for almost two hours. Who could ask for anything more?”—San Jose Mercury News / Bay Area News Group
