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<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><I><FONT FACE="Arial">Hershey Felder as GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE</FONT></I></B></P>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Award Winning International Production Comes to The Cleveland Play House</FONT></I></B></P>
<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CLEVELAND (November 26, 2007) –</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin, one of America’s greatest and most beloved composers who is credited with making a “lady out of jazz,” will return to the stage in the form of</FONT><B></B><B><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hershey Felder as GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE</FONT></I></B><I></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> at The Cleveland Play House.</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> will begin preview performances on Tuesday, January 15 and will be performed in the Drury Theatre through February 3, 2008. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hershey Felder, actor, pianist, playwright and composer, has produced and staged</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> from Los Angeles to South Korea with stops on Broadway and in London’s West End having given some three thousand performances in major centres across the globe.</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> is directed by Joel Zwick, director of the film phenomenon</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">My Big Fat Greek Wedding,</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> among other box office hits. </FONT></P>
<P><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> is a one-man “imagination with music” production about the life and music of the composer who brought the world such works as “A Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris” and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Porgy and Bess.</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> The award-winning and critically-acclaimed</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><I><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">presents what an evening may have been like in the presence of the great composer. This work represents the third movement of a trilogy about composers entitled “The Composer Sonata,” with each of the first two movements featuring the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, in</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Beethoven, As I Knew Him</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and Fryderyk Chopin in</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Monsieur Chopin</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Los Angeles Stage Alliance recently awarded Hershey Felder with the 2007 Ovation Award for best actor and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> for best musical, best lighting design and best sound design.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ABOUT GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE </FONT></B>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">To create this work, the Gershwin family gave Hershey Felder unfettered access to the artist’s manuscripts, personal and professional papers and recordings. Mr. Felder conducted further research with Gershwin family members, biographers, friends and associates and at the Library of Congress, which houses the entire George and Ira Gershwin family archives as well as the composer’s Steinway piano. Felder also studied Gershwin’s radio show recordings to capture his vocal approach to speech and song in the “jazz age.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin was born in 1898 to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York. Together, he and his brother, Ira, wrote standards such as “The Man I Love,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Embraceable You,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” “I Got Rhythm,” “S’Wonderful” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.” His groundbreaking opera, “Porgy and Bess,” is now considered an American classic. All told, George Gershwin wrote more than one thousand songs for the stage and screen as well as works for the opera house and the symphony orchestra. In 1937, at the age of 38, Gershwin died of an undiagnosed brain tumor, never knowing how famous and beloved he and his work would become.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ABOUT HERSHEY FELDER (George Gershwin/Fryderyk Chopin/Playwright)</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Broadway, London</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">’</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s West End:</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Helen Hayes Theatre, Duchess Theatre). Regional and international appearances include</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Monsieur Chopin</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">: Chicago</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">’</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s Royal George Theatre, Geffen Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, American Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, Ravinia Festival, The Old Globe Theatre; Command Performance for the Polish Ambassador to the United States, Polish Embassy, Washington; Uijeongbu Theatre Festival, South Korea.</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">: 2004-2005 Chicago; 1999-2007 at Ford</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">’</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, The Geffen (Best Musical and Best Actor, L.A. Ovations Awards), The Old Globe, Arizona Theatre Company, Prince Music Theatre (Philadelphia), Florida, The Gilmore Festival, Ravinia, El Paso, Uijeongbu, and others. Upcoming:</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Monsieur Chopin</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> in Paris and Warsaw; the World Premiere of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Beethoven As I Knew Him</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> at The Old Globe, San Diego. Compositions include</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Fairytale</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, a musical;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Song Settings</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, poetry by Vachel Lindsay;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Aliyah, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Etudes Thematiques for Piano</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. Recordings include</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Love Songs of the Yiddish Theatre, Back from Broadway</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Monsieur Chopin</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> for the WFMT Radio Network Recordings label. Worldwide live broadcast,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, July 2005. Current projects include the completion of the Composer Trilogy with</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Beethoven</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, as well as a Negaunee Foundation Chicago commission to complete</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Noah</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">’</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s Ark</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, an opera. Mr. Felder is on the Board of Directors of the Chicago College of Performing Arts. He has also been a Scholar in Residence at Harvard University</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">’</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s Department of Music. Mr. Felder is married to Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada.</FONT><B></B></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Helvetica"> </FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ABOUT JOEL ZWICK</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Joel Zwick directed</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">My Big Fat Greek Wedding</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, the highest-grossing comedy of all time, produced by Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Gary Goetzman. Recent films include</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Fat Albert</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(with Bill Cosby), and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Elvis Has Left the Building,</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">starring John Corbett and Kim Basinger. Mr. Zwick directed the Broadway production of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">at the Helen Hayes Theatre, as well as all other productions. Mr. Zwick began his theatrical career at</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">La Mama E.T.C.,</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">as director of the</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">La Mama</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Plexus. He has directed on Broadway, off-Broadway and Broadway touring companies. Currently, Mr. Zwick is recognized as Hollywood’s most prolific director of episodic television, having the direction of five hundred and twenty-five episodes to his credit. These include having directed twenty-one pilots, which have gone on to become regular series. Television shows include:</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Bosom Buddies, Webster, Perfect Strangers, Full House, Step By Step, Family Matters, It’s a Living, Bros. Wayans, Joanie Loves Chachi, Jamie Fox, Kirk, Parent’ Hood, Angie, On Our Own, Two Of A Kind</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Love Boat</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hangin’ With Mr. Coope</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">r, etc. Previous New York productions have included</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Dance With Me</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Tony nomination),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Shenandoah</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Broadway national tour),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Oklahoma</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(national tour) and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Cold Storage</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, (American Place Theater). He acted in the original New York production of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">MacBird</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. He directed</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Esther</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Promenade Theater, NY),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Merry-Go-Round</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Chicago and Las Vegas),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Last Chance Saloon</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Woycek</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(West End, London). Mr. Zwick has taught drama at Yale University, Brooklyn College, Queens College, Wheaton College, and the University of Southern California. He is a graduate (B.A., M.A.) of Brooklyn College.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The production team for</FONT><B></B><B><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">George Gershwin Alone</FONT></I></B><I></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">includes Yael Pardess, Scenic Design; Michael Gilliam, Lighting Design; Jon Gottlieb, Sound Design; and Kenneth Cole, Wardrobe Design. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House is the first permanently established professional theatre in the United States. More than 12 million people have attended over 1,300 productions at The Play House – including more than 130 American and/or World Premieres. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Bloom and Managing Director Kevin Moore, The Cleveland Play House is an artist-driven theatre that serves the Greater Cleveland community by holding true to its mission:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">To produce plays of the highest professional standards that inspire, stimulate, and entertain our diverse audiences, and to conduct training and educational programs that enhance the quality of life for those we serve and help to insure the future of theatre.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Ohio Arts Council helps to fund The Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">____________________________________________________________________________________________________</FONT>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><I><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">FACT SHEET</FONT></I></B></P>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">What: </FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hershey Felder as GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE</FONT></I></B>
<BR><B> </B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Music by George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin</FONT>
<BR> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Book by Hershey Felder</FONT>
<UL><UL><UL><UL>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Performed by Hershey Felder</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Directed by Joel Zwick</FONT><I></I>
</UL></UL></UL></UL>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Where: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Drury Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio</FONT>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">When: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Preview Performance: Tuesday, January 15, 2008</FONT>
<UL><UL>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Opening Night: Wednesday, January 16, 2008</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Final Performance: Sunday, February 3, 2008</FONT>
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</UL></UL>
<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Who: </FONT></B> <U></U><U><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Cast</FONT></B></U>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> George Gershwin……………………………………Hershey Felder</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<UL><UL>
<P><U><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT></B></U>
<BR><U><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Creative Team</FONT></B></U>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Director: Joel Zwick</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Scenic Designer: Yael Pardess</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Costume Designer: Kenneth Cole</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Lighting Designer: Michael T. Gilliam</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sound Designer: Jon Gottlieb</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Stage Manager: Gigi Garcia</FONT>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Times: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Tuesday-Saturday Evenings 8:00 pm</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Saturday Matinee 3:00 pm</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sunday Matinee 2:00 pm</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Weekday Matinee 1:30 pm, Thursday, January 31</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">No performances on Mondays.</FONT>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Prices: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Single ticket prices start at $39.00.</FONT>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">For Single Tickets:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">visit</FONT><U> </U><A HREF="http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com "><U><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">www.clevelandplayhouse.com</FONT></U><U></U></A><U></U><U></U><U></U><U></U>
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<P><B><FONT COLOR="#800080" FACE="Californian FB">Alison Bibb-Carson</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">Associate Director of Communications and Marketing</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">The Cleveland Play House</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">8500 Euclid Avenue</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">Cleveland, Ohio 44106</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">216.795.7000 x236</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">SEEING</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">IS</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">BELIEVING...www.clevelandplayhouse.com</FONT>
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