2 PIANOS 4 HANDS Plays Park Square Theater 12/10-1/2/2011

2 PIANOS 4 HANDS brings fabulous music, hilarious one-liners, and razor-sharp insights into the world of competition to the Park Square stage for the holiday season. Two actors, playing two grand pianos and multiple roles, grace the stage as the story of two piano whiz kids unfolds. Tom Frey (who has starred in more than 600 performances-both as Ted and Richard-including the 2002 Ordway production) directs Michael Pearce Donley (Triple Espresso) as Ted and Peter Vitale (Park Square's Love! Valor! Compassion!) as Richard in the musical romp opening December 10 and running through January 2, 2011, at Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul.

2 Pianos 4 Hands makes big demands of the actors, who must really be able to play piano. The riotous, semi-autobiographical story follows the lives of two students through 15 years of musical study, all the while reaching for the same goal-making it as a concert pianist. They work fervently amidst pushy parents, eccentric teachers, stage fright and their growing awareness of the gap between "very good" and "great." Donley and Vitale portray a dazzling range of characters during a virtuoso show of piano wizardry-with music ranging from Bach and Mozart to Hoagy Carmichael's "Heart and Soul" and "My Funny Valentine" by Rogers & Hart.

"This play works on many different levels," said Director Tom Frey, who says his life experience was not unlike that of the play's protagonists. "The first act is fast and funny; then there is a big turn in the second act. It is still funny, but in a way, more transcendent. It is all about starting again. We can't all be Vladimir Horowitz or Michael Jordan-but that doesn't mean we can't take pleasure in our first dream of greatness-the passion and the enjoyment."

"People often come up and talk about themselves, not the play, after performances," continued Frey. "One former piano player, now a young mother with small children, hadn't played in years. After seeing the play, she pledged to start again. That's what it is all about-growing up and finding your dream."

Previews of 2 Pianos 4 Hands will be held Tuesday-Thursday, December 7-9; the show opens Friday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday, January 2. Performances are Wednesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sundays. All performances are in the company's intimate theater in Saint Paul's historic Hamm Building, 20 W. Seventh Place. Tickets are $36-$56 on Wednesdays through Sundays (with opening night at $40-$60 and preview tickets at $20). 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.

2 Pianos 4 Hands' artistic team includes Katharine Ann Horowitz (sound), Michael P. Kittel (lighting), Erik E. Paulson (scenic), and Jason Lee Resler (costumes). The play is produced by permission of Marquis Entertainment Inc.

 

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!