Jul 08—Aug 02, 2015
Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin
Eighty Eight Entertainment / USA
Heralded as “the greatest songwriter that has ever lived,” by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin is known for innumerable American classics such as “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” “Anything You Can Do,” and “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.” Songwriter Jerome Kern said it all: “Irving Berlin…IS American music.” In this tour de force performance by award winning showman Hershey Felder (George Gershwin Alone and Maestro: Leonard Bernstein), the remarkable story of “America’s Composer” comes to life. We’re taken from the depths of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia to New York’s Lower East Side—and ultimately all of America and the world. Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs and beyond, Hershey Felder’s masterful creation of character and musical performance makes this evening with Irving Berlin an unforgettable journey that epitomizes the American dream.
Info
Venue
Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
219 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02116
“ArtsEmerson is giving us a White Christmas in July.”
“I have never been so moved by a rendition of ‘God Bless America.'”
“As I lie down in my bed this evening waiting for sleep to overtake me, two of the blessings I will be enumerating are Hershey Felder and ArtsEmerson. I just returned from spending two magical hours at the Cutler Majestic Theatre as Hershey Felder recreated a century’s worth of life as seen through the eyes and played through the fingers of Irving Berlin.”
— The White Rhino
“Captures both the pain and the pleasure of a remarkable 101 year life”
“If ‘Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin’ is a profile in courage, it also stands as a thoughtful examination of the composer’s approach to songwriting.”
— The Jewish Advocate
— WBUR The Artery
“[Berlin’s] music has stood the test of time. Lucky for us that Hershey Felder continues to honor his legacy.”
— Broadway World
“A warm portrait of an unassuming genius”
— The Boston Globe
“Hershey Felder at his finest”
“There is something very magical about an entire theater swaying together as it sings along with Felder to timeless pieces such as “Blue Skies,” “Always” and “White Christmas.”
“A warm, wonderful musical portrait of a man who wore his love for his adopted country on his musical sleeve.”
— On Boston Stages
“Berlin’s life reflects a view of America’s melting pot in which assimilation is a great virtue. He was a Russian immigrant who wrote “God Bless America,” a Jew who wrote “White Christmas.” His songs, which also include “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” were hits for artists ranging from Louis Armstrong to Bing Crosby to Ray Charles.”
— The Boston Globe
“With this show, I hope to tell a really good story about an amazing man who started life as an immigrant, lived through not one but two world wars, and went on to become an American icon whose music helped define the 20th century.”
— The Metro West
Critic’s Choice! A “remarkable portrait … richly entertaining and ultimately touching.”
— Los Angeles Times
“Enriching, humorous and replete with most of the brilliant Berlin tunes … you do not want to miss a delicious moment of it!”
— Broadway World
“Hershey Felder is a phenomenon.”
— The Huffington Post
Performer/Playwright Hershey Felder’s Specialty: Conjuring Composers
— American Theatre
“A delightful show filled with some of the most iconic American songs of the 20th century.”
— The OC Register
“Felder shines as Irving Berlin”
— San Diego Tribune
“…Under Trevor Hay’s tight direction, Hersey Felder’s performance as Irving Berlin is his best so far. His piano playing, in particular, was much more textured than perhaps in some of his other performances, capturing the deceptively simple nuances of Berlin’s music, which underscored the crisp, compelling narrative.”
— LA Splash
“…Director Trevor May, a longtime collaborator with Hershey Felder, has helped him create the elegance and fluidity in the storytelling, transporting each audience member through the 101 years of Berlin’s life.”
— Culver City News
“…Once again* the uniquely talented Hershey Felder endears his audience to him with his newest presentation, the life and work of the one and only composer Irving Berlin in Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. [It’s] enriching, humorous and replete with most of the brilliant Berlin tunes.”
— Grigware Blogspot
“…Written and performed by Mr. Felder, this one man show has all the requisites for a compelling theatre experience: irony, insights into the art of composing, tragedy and joy.”
— Pat Rye Reviews