world PREMIERE THE Pianist of
willesden laNE extends Through the end of summer
at the geffen playhouse
Mona
Golabek’s Musical Narrative Adapted and Directed by Hershey Felder
Extended
in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater Now Through August 19 Only
LOS ANGELES, June 28, 2012 – The world premiere of Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane has once again been extended four additional weeks with performances now running through August 19, 2012 in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse. Adapted and directed by L.A. audience favorite Hershey Felder and featuring award-winning concert pianistMona Golabek, this music-filled evening recounts the personal story of Ms. Golabek’s mother in Nazi-occupied Europe.
Set in Vienna in 1938 and London during the Blitzkrieg, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish pianist who is dreaming about her concert debut at the storied Musikverein concert hall. But with the issuing of new ordinances under Nazi regime, everything for Lisa changes, except for her love of music and the pursuit of her dream. Featuring some of the world's most beloved piano music played live, The Pianist of Willesden Lane is performer Mona Golabek's true family story, chronicling hope, survival and how through our darkest times, music has the power to help us survive.
The Geffen Playhouse production marks the world premiere of this play.
HERSHEY FELDER And the Geffen Playhouse
Present the One More Entertainment and Trevor Hay
Production of
mona golabek in the
pianist of willesden lane
Adapted and directed by Hershey Felder
Based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen
Featuring
Mona Golabek
Production Credits
Scenic Design David Buess and Trevor Hay
Lighting Design
Chris Rynne
Sound Design
Erik Carstensen
Projection Design
Greg Sowizdrzal and Andrew
Wilder
Scenic Construction
Christian Thorsen
Production Manager
Trevor Hay
Production
Stage Manager Gary Breitbach (Through
July 8)
Nate
Genung (July 12 – August 19)
Ticket Info
Ticket prices currently range from $72 - $77. Tickets are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, via phone at 310-208-5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.
Performance
Schedule
Monday ,
Tuesday No
performances
Wednesday – Friday 8:00pm
Saturday 3:00pm;
8:00pm
Sunday 2:00pm;
7:00pm
*Please note there will be no performances on July 4 or July 11,
2012
Biographies
MONA GOLABEK (Performer)
American
concert pianist Mona Golabek has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy
Center and the Royal Festival Hall alongside major orchestras worldwide. A
Grammy nominee, she has been the recipient of numerous awards including the
Avery Fisher Prize and the People's Award of the International Chopin
Competition, and has been the subject of several PBS television
documentaries. Ms. Golabek is the creator and voice of The Romantic Hours, a syndicated radio program which combines classical music with readings of poetry, letters,
and stories, and can be heard on 80 stations and XM Satellite Radio. Ms.
Golabek and her family are founders of the non-profit, Hold On To Your Music,
which spreads the message of the power of the arts, especially music, to
embolden the human spirit. In addition, Ms. Golabek and Lee Cohen are
award-winning authors of The Children of Willesden Lane, the book upon
which The Pianist of Willesden Lane is based.
HERSHEY FELDER (Adaptation/Director)
Broadway, London's West End: George
Gershwin Alone (Helen Hayes Theatre, Duchess Theatre). Regional and
international appearances of “Composers Sonata” (1999-2012) - George
Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven, As I Knew Him,and Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein - include Old Globe
Theatre, Geffen Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, Laguna Playhouse, Ford's
Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, American Repertory Theatre,
Hartford Stage, Ravinia Festival, Chicago's Royal George Theatre, 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; An American Man 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 and An American Man 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 Man,
recorded with Chicago's Ars Viva Symphony conducted by Alan Heatherington,
which had its staged world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse in March 2012.
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.
ABOUT THE
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
The Geffen Playhouse
has been a hub of the
LISTING
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
Audrey
Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse
Box
office: 310-208-5454
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