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Hershey Felder

May 18, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Hershey Felder, left, and J. Anthony Crane in “Nicholas, Anna & Sergei.” (Courtesy of Hershey Felder Presents)

In “Nicholas, Anna & Sergei,” Hershey Felder fully captures the “history, pride and melancholy of the Russians” with the fervor Sergei Rachmaninoff carried with him to the end. And he plays the composer’s sweeping music to magnificent effect.

Mar 17, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
(Courtesy of Marco Badiani and The Florentine)

How do you tell the story of a musical genius whose operas are among the most beloved works in the Italian opera canon? If you are Hershey Felder, you create something unabashedly in the grand opera style that also manages to be hugely accessible for audiences still distanced from live performance by COVID-19.

Feb 10, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
A scene from “Before Fiddler: Hershey Felder as Sholem Aleichem.” (Courtesy of Hershey Felder)

Streaming through Sunday, “Before Fiddler” is the latest of the many remarkable feats of musical storytelling from Hershey Felder, the multitalented writer, actor, pianist and producer renowned for his solo shows about composers.

Dec 15, 2020 | Hedy Weiss
Hershey Felder in “A Paris Love Story.” (Credit: Christopher Ash)

For several decades, Hershey Felder has created a series of richly theatrical biographies of great composers. His latest work, “A Paris Love Story,” follows that essential pattern but adds a heartbreaking layer of autobiography.

Jan 17, 2020 | Hedy Weiss
Hershey Felder in “A Paris Love Story” featuring the music of Claude Debussy. (Courtesy of Christopher Ash)

The multitalented actor, pianist (and yes, composer in his own right) brings the eighth installment in his renowned “Great Composers Series” to Chicago in June and simultaneously makes his Goodman Theatre debut.

Apr 16, 2018 | Hedy Weiss
Hershey Felder in “Our Great Tchaikovsky” at Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre.

For those still unfamiliar with the magic Hershey Felder can create, an introduction to the man, whose enthralling show about Tchaikovsky is now in a limited engagement at Steppenwolf’s Upstairs Theatre, is essential.

Apr 11, 2016 | Erica Gunderson

Hear what viewers had to say about our interview with Hershey Felder, our story on outsider artist Lee Godie and our showcase of creatures from ReptileFest when we read feedback from the "Chicago Tonight" website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

14 Things You Might Not Know About Irving Berlin

Apr 6, 2016 | Marc Vitali
Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. (Courtesy of Eighty-Eight Entertainment)

“Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin” returns to Chicago’s Royal George Theatre this week. Pianist and actor Hershey Felder joins us in conversation and performance to demonstrate the timeless appeal of the great American songwriter.