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February 27 - March 22, 2015 , Allen Theatre

The Pianist of Willesden Lane

based on the book "The Children of Willesden Lane" by Mona Golabek & Lee Cohen
adapted and directed by Hershey Felder

Run time: 90 minutes; no intermission
Advisory: Recommended for ages 10+. Content and themes include war and the Holocaust.

At age 14, pianist Lisa Jura was separated from everything and everyone she knew and loved. In The Pianist of Willesden Lane, Jura’s daughter, renowned pianist Mona Golabek, brings her mother’s true tale of survival and triumph to the stage. Featuring live performances of classics by Chopin, Beethoven, and Debussy, Pianist is a deeply moving story infused with hope and the life-affirming power of music.

Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

Mona Golabek (Lisa Jura). Photo credit: Michael Lamont.

Mona Golabek (Lisa Jura). Photo credit: Michael Lamont.

Mona Golabek (Lisa Jura). Photo credit: Michael Lamont.

Mona Golabek (Lisa Jura). Photo credit: Michael Lamont.

Mona Golabek (Lisa Jura). Photo credit: mellopix.com

Artists

Hershey Felder

(Director/Adaptor) Mr. Felder created and performed George Gershwin Alone, which played on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre, in the West End at the Duchess Theatre and in theatres around the country. His Composers Sonata — George Gershwin Alone; Monsieur Chopin; Beethoven, As I Knew Him; Maestro Bernstein; Hershey more(Director/Adaptor) Mr. Felder created and performed George Gershwin Alone, which played on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre, in the West End at the Duchess Theatre and in theatres around the country. His Composers Sonata — George Gershwin Alone; Monsieur Chopin; Beethoven, As I Knew Him; Maestro Bernstein; Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik; Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin — has been presented at dozens of theatres across the U.S. and around the world. Mr. Felder’s compositions and recordings include Aliyah, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra; Fairytale, a musical; Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano; Song Settings; Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra; Etudes Thématiques for Piano; and An American Story for Actor and Orchestra. As director, he premiered Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane at the Geffen Playhouse in 2012 and Chris Lemmon in Jack Lemmon Returns in 2014. 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.

Mona Golabek

Mona Golabek

(Lisa Jura) Mona is an American concert pianist and has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center and Royal Festival Hall. She is a Grammy nominee who has been the sub-ject of several documentaries, including Concerto for Mona with conductor Zubin Mehta. Her recordings include Carnival of the more(Lisa Jura) Mona is an American concert pianist and has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center and Royal Festival Hall. She is a Grammy nominee who has been the sub-ject of several documentaries, including Concerto for Mona with conductor Zubin Mehta. Her recordings include Carnival of the Animals and Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite featur-ing Meryl Streep, both recorded with Mona’s sister, Renee Golabek-Kaye. Both daughters were taught by their mother, Lisa Jura, who is the subject of Mona’s acclaimed book, The Children of Willesden Lane. Mona founded Hold On To Your Music, a foundation devoted to spreading the message of the power of music. With the help of the Milken Family Foundation, Facing History and Ourselves and the Annenberg Foundation, she created edu-cational resources which, with her book, have been adopted into school curricula across America.

Erik Carstensen

(Sound Designer/Production Manager) Erik has designed sound for An American Story, The Pianist of Willesden Lane (2012 Ovation Award nomination), Maestro Bernstein, Beethoven, As I Knew Him (2009 Ovation Award), Franz Liszt in Musik and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. He was the master sound technician at the Old more(Sound Designer/Production Manager) Erik has designed sound for An American Story, The Pianist of Willesden Lane (2012 Ovation Award nomination), Maestro Bernstein, Beethoven, As I Knew Him (2009 Ovation Award), Franz Liszt in Musik and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. He was the master sound technician at the Old Globe from 1997 to 2012 and the production engineer for more than 60 productions, including Allegiance, Robin and the 7 Hoods, A Catered Affair, George Gershwin Alone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Full Monty, Dirty Blonde and Floyd Collins. Erik is a member of IATSE Local 122.

Cynthia Caywood

(Dramaturg) Cynthia is chair of the Department of English at the University of San Diego and serves as co-director of the London Summer Program. She is a founding faculty member of the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA program in acting and has worked as a dramaturg on several more(Dramaturg) Cynthia is chair of the Department of English at the University of San Diego and serves as co-director of the London Summer Program. She is a founding faculty member of the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA program in acting and has worked as a dramaturg on several MFA productions. Her research interests include Aphra Behn, Jane Austen and August Wilson, with a special focus on British and American theatre history, stage production and feminist theory.

Trevor Hay

(Associate Director/Scenic Co-Designer) Trevor directed the world premieres of An American Story for Actor and Orchestra, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. He is Associate Director for Jack Lemmon Returns. Trevor is a former member of the historic Old more(Associate Director/Scenic Co-Designer) Trevor directed the world premieres of An American Story for Actor and Orchestra, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. He is Associate Director for Jack Lemmon Returns. Trevor is a former member of the historic Old Globe where, at the age of 9, his first position was selling Old Globe memorabilia. Over the next 32 years, Trevor went on to various aspects of production on more than 80 presentations, including the Broadway productions of Jack O’Brien’s Damn Yankees, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and Twyla Tharp’s The Times They Are A-Changin’. Included in his 23 seasons at the Old Globe were eleven seasons of the Summer Shakespeare Festival Repertory, as well as work on Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County, directed by Sam Gold, and Hershey Felder’s George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin and Maestro Bernstein.

Jaclyn Maduff

(Executive Director/Costume Designer) Jaclyn has been the director of Hold On To Your Music Inc. since its formation in 2003. Hold On To Your Music is a non-profit dedicated to providing educators and students with the book The Children of Willesden Lane. For more information, visit holdontoyourmusic.org. more(Executive Director/Costume Designer) Jaclyn has been the director of Hold On To Your Music Inc. since its formation in 2003. Hold On To Your Music is a non-profit dedicated to providing educators and students with the book The Children of Willesden Lane. For more information, visit holdontoyourmusic.org.

Christopher Rynne

(Lighting Designer) Christopher is collaborating with Hershey Felder for the fourth time. Other productions with Mr. Felder include An American Story for Actor and Symphony, Maestro Bernstein and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Other theatre and opera lighting credits include designs for the Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast more(Lighting Designer) Christopher is collaborating with Hershey Felder for the fourth time. Other productions with Mr. Felder include An American Story for Actor and Symphony, Maestro Bernstein and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Other theatre and opera lighting credits include designs for the Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast Rep, The Old Globe, San Diego Opera, San Diego Rep, Cygnet Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Houston Grand Opera, Madison Opera and Michigan Opera Theatre. Chris also designs lighting for museum exhibitions and special events and lighting sys-tems for new venues.

Greg Sowizdrzal

(Projection Co-Designer) Greg is a native of Orange County. A member of IATSE Local 122, he has filled the roles of stagehand, master electrician, video engineer, audio engineer and carpenter. As an automation operator with PRG, he has toured the U.S. on shows including Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch more(Projection Co-Designer) Greg is a native of Orange County. A member of IATSE Local 122, he has filled the roles of stagehand, master electrician, video engineer, audio engineer and carpenter. As an automation operator with PRG, he has toured the U.S. on shows including Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Robin and the 7 Hoods and The First Wives Club. He made his graphic design debut on Hershey Felder’s An American Story.

Samantha F. Voxakis

(General Manager/Producer) is a native of Maryland, where she spent 12 memorable years with the Baltimore Orioles. Since 2004, Sam has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Eighty-Eight LLC. With special thanks to her very supportive family and to Mr. Felder. more(General Manager/Producer) is a native of Maryland, where she spent 12 memorable years with the Baltimore Orioles. Since 2004, Sam has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Eighty-Eight LLC. With special thanks to her very supportive family and to Mr. Felder.

Andrew Wilder

(Projection Co-Designer) Andrew has experience in lighting design, web design and photography, which have led him to the world of projection design. He is thrilled to be a part of the Eighty-Eight Entertainment team, having designed projections for Beethoven, As I Knew Him, Maestro Bernstein, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Franz more(Projection Co-Designer) Andrew has experience in lighting design, web design and photography, which have led him to the world of projection design. He is thrilled to be a part of the Eighty-Eight Entertainment team, having designed projections for Beethoven, As I Knew Him, Maestro Bernstein, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Franz Liszt in Musik and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Andrew also designs websites and consults on internet strategy at BlogTutor.com, writes about being a “healthy foodie” at EatingRules.com and is the founder of HealthyAds.com. He leads the annual October Unprocessed challenge, which most recently helped more than 20,000 people become healthier by avoiding processed food for the entire month. The challenge has been featured in major publications across the U.S., including The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He is also the founder of International Kale Day, which is celebrated every year on October 10.

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