Hershey Felder Explores Claude Debussy's Life and Music

Hershey Felder is playwright, pianist and performer in Hershey Felder: A Paris Love Story, now playing at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

The production is the latest work in Felder’s “Great Composer Series” of one man shows exploring the loves, lives and music of great composers.

Impressionist composer Clade Debussy is the subject and Felder incorporates his own memories into his portrayal of the famous flamboyant French composer.

The play follows two musicians, Felder during his first trip to Paris at 19 to explore where Debussy lived and created music and Debussy who believed music could “transport us to a world of dreams.”

In addition to Felder’s moving renditions of Debussy’s beautiful “La mer” and “Clair de lune,” we also learn of Debussy’s womanizing ways and hatred of Wagner’s music.

Felder is truly a one-man show as he also serves as set designer for the play. Sketches of black and white French landmarks are projected amidst two lamp lit bridges, providing a romantic backdrop to both Felder’s storytelling and magical piano playing.

Trevor Hay serves as director with Joel Zwick as consulting producer, lighting and projection design by Christopher Ash and costume design by Stacey Nezda.

Performances at the Wallis run May 24 through June 9, weeknights at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2 and 7:30pm and Sundays at 2 and 7pm. Tickets $35 to $105, at 310.746.4000.