Saint Paul, Minn. (Oct. 30, 2011) Park Square Theatre takes you back to New York City in the early 1900s, the world of Tin Pan Alley, bustling with popular tunes, folk songs, blues, jazz, Yiddish theatre, cantor chants, and opera . Song-pluggers like George Gershwin sold sheet music and the sound of their pianos could be heard on the street. In The Soul of Gershwin, Michael Paul Levin, portraying George Gershwin, acts as the guide on a journey to discover the musical influences behind this great American songwriter. Joined by Maggie Burton (the chazzan, or cantor), Prudence Johnson (the chanteuse) and T. Mychael Rambo (the griot, or West African storyteller), with the band Klezmerica, The Soul of Gershwin features favorites like The Man I Love, I Got Rhythm, Embraceable You, S Wonderful, It Aint Necessarily So, and Someone To Watch Over Me.

I first heard George Gershwins music as a child. I loved it immediately, says Joseph Vass, the shows creator and music director. To me, Gershwins music is Jewish. At first, I knew this merely in a purely subjective, spiritual sense. Then I learned that Gershwin himself labeled his own melodies as Jewish according to the deep emotional element that flows in them.

The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer is directed by Peter Moore. The creative team also includes Dean Holzman (Scenic Designer), Jason Lee Resler (Costume Coordinator), Michael P. Kittel (Lighting Designer) and Paul Powell (Stage Manager). Music and Lyrics are by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, with additional lyrics from Porgy and Bess by DuBose Heyward. The show, originally titled Gershwin, the Klezmer, premiered at Park Square in 1999.

The band, Klezmerica, a contemporary Jewish music ensemble, is directed by Joseph Vass, piano, and includes Chris Bates, bass; Jay Epstein, drums; Adam Meckler, trumpet; Dale Mendenhall, woodwinds; and Gary Schulte, violin.

There are 18 performances of THE SOUL OF GERSHWIN. Previews of will be held Thursday, December 8 through Wednesday, December 14; the show opens Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through New Years Day, Sunday, January 1. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (except Saturday, Dec. 24, when the performance is at 2 p.m.) with 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays (no performance on December 25). A matinee is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. There are no Friday performances. All performances are in the beautifully remodeled proscenium theater in Saint Pauls historic Hamm Building, 20 W. Seventh Place. Tickets are $38-$58 (preview tickets are $25). Group, senior and special prices for those 30 and under are also offered. Tickets are available at 651.291.7005 or online www.parksquaretheatre.org.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews: December 8, 10, 13, 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Preview matinee: December 11 at 2 p.m.

Tuesday evenings: December 20, 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday evenings: December 21, 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday matinee: December 28 at 1 p.m.

Thursday evenings: December 15, 22, 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday evenings: December 17, 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday matinee: December 24 at 2 p.m.

Sunday matinees: December 18, January 1 at 2 p.m.

The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Additional Lyrics from Porgy and Bess by DuBose Heyward

Created and Written by Joseph Vass

Directed by Peter Moore

December 15, 2011-January 1, 2012 (Previews begin December 8)

Explore the roots of music that influenced the great American composer George Gershwin (Michael Paul Levin) as he travels the city that stirs his soul bustling with Yiddish theatre, cantor chants, popular tunes, folk songs, blues, jazz and opera. Featuring Maggie Burton (the cantor), Prudence Johnson (the chanteuse), T. Mychael Rambo (the griot) and Klezmerica.

PARK SQUARE THEATRE

20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul

Box office: 651.291.7005 or www.parksquaretheatre.org

MEDIA CONTACTS

Connie Shaver, 612.308.5785

connieshaver@charter.net

Susan Berdahl, 651.767.8492

berdahl@parksquaretheatre.org