Eric Hirsh, New York theater producer!
May 20th, 2008, posted by Eric
Don’t look twice: the above photo is the real deal, not a product of Photoshop trickery! Over the past few months I have become the Supervising Producer for an exciting new show that opens at Harlem’s world famous Apollo Theater in June. The show is called Art Tatum: Piano Starts Here and it features Zenph’s jaw-dropping re-performance technology which allows Art Tatum to play live onstage before your very eyes. I’ve been working with the show from the research and writing, to the director hiring, to the casting, to the design (I am also the sound designer), to the rehearsal process, and the promotion. It has been a valuable arts management experience and I get to work with top-shelf Broadway talent along the way!
Zenph Studios is presenting the show in association with Metropolitan Talent Presents (recentclients include The Rolling Stones and The Police…) and has brought many jazz luminaries on board in support of the show including Les Paul, Page Cavanaugh, Little Anthony, and Clark Terry. Zenph is dedicated to jazz education and preservation and is showing this by working with The Jazz Museum in Harlem and donating half the profits of the show to them. Zenph has also been working with Tatum’s estate to donate his piano and other belongings to the Museum! There is a big effort behind this show, and I’m really excited to present it to you:
The show goes up June 19th, 20th, and 22nd at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or through the Apollo box office (212/531-5305).
I’ve loved working with director Tre Garrett, and actor Paul Butler (who has been in original productions of many August Wilson plays). Here are some shots of us rehearsing with the Zenph piano in Raleigh last week:
