It’s All About the Artist and the Music

George Gershwin created a style of music that encompassed more than the Jazz Age era it epitomized. It brought American classical music out of the deep shadows cast by the giants of Europe, gave it a worthy stage and sent it into the American culture for keeps.

This is the Gershwin you’ll experience with Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone. The special offering is part of SCR’s 60th season and is limited to 11 performances—many of which are nearly sold out.

As the only individual granted permission by the Gershwin heirs to create the role of George Gershwin on the stage, Hershey Felder comes to SCR with this world-renowned play featuring George Gershwin’s greatest works and the stories behind them. It is part of the farewell tour of Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone, a production Felder has performed more than 3,000 times in more than 100 venues worldwide.

Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone tells the story of America’s great composer, who with the groundbreaking “Rhapsody in Blue,” made a “Lady out of Jazz.” The show incorporates the composer's best-known songs from "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," through the hits of An American In Parisand Porgy and Bess, to a complete performance of “Rhapsody in Blue.” Felder brings to life the spirit and talent of the legendary composer and pianist for the first time in history, leading the audience through the fascinating rhythms of Gershwin’s legendary songbook and his tragically short life.

So what other Gershwin pieces can audiences expect?

“In terms of a song list, largely the material is the same. But given the nature of the show and how it unfolds, sometimes, things change,” Felder said. “In terms of the stable musical numbers, they are not just songs per-se; some are in Gershwin’s piano arrangements for solo piano. And the “Rhapsody (in Blue)” is my own arrangement of the orchestra and piano together.”

Felder shared a list of Gershwin pieces that audiences can expect:

• “Swanee”
• “I Got Rhythm”
• “Someone to Watch Over Me”
• “Embraceable You
• “Fascinating Rhythm”
• “’S Wonderful”
• “But not for Me”
• “The Man I Love
• Porgy and Bess Duet
• “Summertime’”
• “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”
• “Our Love is Here To Stay”
• “Rhapsody in Blue”

“And others,” Felder said.

Tickets are going fast for Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone. The best availability is for three performances added due to popular demand. They are Thursday, Jan. 25, Friday, Jan. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 28. All begin at 7:45 p.m.