Hershey Felder to star in ‘Rachmaninoff And The Tsar’ in August

HFP LIVE presents the world premiere of pianist/actor/playwright/producer Hershey Felder and Jonathan Silvestri in “Rachmaninoff And The Tsar,” a new musical play — for a strictly limited engagement — at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Aug. 7-25. 

After managing to safely get out of Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, legendary pianist-composer Sergei Rachmaninoff immigrated to the United States. In 1942 when he was 68 years old, Rachmaninoff became an American citizen and purchased a home in Beverly Hills, but his soul remained in his homeland.

Six months later, a terminal illness elicited the memory of an encounter the composer had with Russia’s last Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Tsar’s daughter, the Grand Duchess Anastasia. This chilling memory would haunt him until his death.

The play features Rachmaninoff’s most popular compositions including the second piano concerto, the Paganini variations, preludes and symphonic selections.

Felder stars in the role of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Jonathan Silvestri (HBO series “Borgia”) stars as Tsar Nicholas II.

Tickets and information are available at RachAndTheTsar.com or by calling the box office, open daily from noon to 5 p.m. at 213-544-0477. Box office telephone hours on show days are noon to 8 p.m.