Hershey Felder Tickets

A wonderful evening of music and wit was delivered to a very crowded Town Hall in New York City on June 6th, with a tour de force performance by Mr. Hershey Felder, portraying, Mr. Irving Berlin. There were moments of poignant sorrow and then in an instant you were laughing at a yiddish expression or comic pose, in this wonderfully articulated biography of Vaudeville's most prolific composer and lyricist of the 20th century. Berlin's story was well researched and added to the chronology of music which flowed naturally with the dialogue throughout the play. The set design gave us a feeling of the period, and the film footage of cronies and family was a marvelous touch to authenticate what we were hearing. The whole production invoked a nostalgia for the music, simplicity, romance and humor of Irving Berlin's greatest works in each period of the last century. 'Mr. Felder was charming, informative and entertaining in his characterization and will be remembered for a long time for this portrayal of one of Broadway's most unusual songsters.

So etrrtaining. Format never been done before. Really held my attetion and didnt even mind lack of intermission. More plays/ musicals should be done this way.

I had a front row center seat at Town Hall for Hershey Felder's "Maestro Bernstein". It was a biopic play in which he portrayed Leonard Bernstein taking us on a journey from his childhood through his amazing life and conflicted career. Hershey Felder is an amazingly talented actor and pianist. His portrayal, while not quite Lenny if you knew him (hard to portray an icon - think of having to portray Garland or Monroe or Streisand) was nonetheless full of spirit and bravura. His piano playing was excellent, particularly his rendition of Wagner's "Liebestod" which had the orchestral version fade in brilliantly in perfect sync with his live playing towards the end. Everyone in the audience obviously loved this theatrical memoir, and the play had many humorous moments as well as insightful and dramatic turns. The show was broadcast nationally and will be broadcast world-wide on Aug. 25 - Lenny's 96th birthday. My own memories of my association with Lenny came flooding back - the party where we met, the two baseball hats he would alternate (one read "Beethoven" and one "Freud"), being invited to attend his Tanglewood rehearsals, studying with him in New York, Boston and L.A. and conducting his music under his auspices at Bernstein Festivals in Israel and Austria. I found some moments in the play quite poignant and resonant, particularly how Bernstein felt Koussevitsky to be his musical father - the father Sam, his real father had never been. I always felt that about Lenny. Some memories were painful for me personally - as in how I felt when I arrived in Philly while traveling with the 1st National Les Mis tour and saw the headlines in the newspaper on the hotel desk telling of his death. I had just spoken to him three weeks before. He was at his home in Fairfield, CT, and he lied about having lung cancer. He said it was "plurasy gone wild." If I had one criticism it would be that the sections where Mr. Felder as Bernstein boasted about his abilities seemed a little forced. Although Leonard Bernstein's ego is legendary, you never felt that he was bragging. Somehow his talent, his amazing intellect, and his self-involvement all seemed in service to his music making and his artistry. He didn't need to brag - he simply was the best and that was a given.

As a fan of Leonard Bernstein, the conductor and composer, I was quite enthusiastic about seeing a play about his life. Harvey Felder played more than a role... he became Bernstein via story telling, musical artistry, and finesse at the piano. This counts as one of the top 5 shows I have ever seen! Bravo Harvey Felder! Bravo Leonard Bernstein!

Above and beyond all expectations! Loved, loved every minute of the show. I am sorry it is only a one night performance. I wish others could have the experience of seeing this. I would have loved to seen Hershey Felders other performances.

Felder brings Leonard Bernstein's life and Music to the stage. Well developed and dynamic story of man and music. Wonderful theater.