When Leonard Bernstein composed the music to the 1957 Broadway production of West Side Story, he solidified his place in musical theater history. Over 50 years later, his life and work is retold in Hershey Felder in Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, a one-man show at the Old Globe Theatre.
This production is the latest in a string of plays about well-known composers that Felder has not only starred in but also written. Previously, Felder has created homages to Gershwin (George Gershwin Alone), Chopin (Monsieur Chopin) and Beethoven (Beethoven, As I Knew Him).
“I investigated other composers and then I started to look into this character,” said Felder. “It took quite awhile to understand what was so interesting about him but it’s his contradictions that make him fun.”
“Also, there’s a whole lot of good music involved,” he continued.
As is the norm in Felder’s composer-based plays, he perfectly blends the iconic music with the dramatic story of their often complex everyday lives.
The play centers on a direct conversation with the audience as Bernstein reflects on his life, his work and how he became the person he was. While Felder is the sole actor in the production, he impressively plays multiple characters to round out the story.
Bernstein, although best known for his role as composer of West Side Story, also worked on Broadway’s On the Town and was a conductor and author.
“I look at the character I’m representing and see how their music or art is affected by their character and how their character is affected by their art and circumstances,” said Felder. “I try to set the creation of the music with actual context, historical or personal.”
While Bernstein’s professional achievements are worth noting, it was his personal life that helped create a compelling background for the play. Married for 25 years with three children, Bernstein also had multiple relationships with men and this production explores that aspect of his life as well.
“As an individual, he was rather complicated and that makes it fun (to portray him) from a theatrical standpoint,” Felder said.
Aside from a love of music, Felder said that he doesn’t have much in common with the complex life of Bernstein. But years of practice and study have allowed him to delve into the intricacies of the character and make the life of Bernstein come to life on stage.
Hershey Felder in Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein plays at the Old Globe through Aug. 28. Visit theoldglobe.org for tickets or more information.
