The Marquis Entertainment production plays July 18-30 as part of Hartford Stage's SummerStage series in Connecticut.
The production features Richard Carsey and Tom Frey in roles written and created by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. The Carsey-Frey staging won a 2005-06 Connecticut Critics Circle Award as outstanding touring production for its summer 2005 run at Hartford Stage.
2 Pianos 4 Hands is directed by Greenblatt.
"The play is the riotous comic tale of two boys at two grand pianos sharing the same goal: concert pianist stardom," according to Hartford Stage. "They work fervently toward their dream amidst pushy parents, eccentric teachers, hours of practice, stage fright and the dream of greatness. From Bach to Billy Joel, the play is filled with musical classics and memories and will strike a familiar chord in the hearts of anyone who has struggled through a music lesson."
Richard Carsey returns to Hartford Stage in the role of Richard. He has appeared in 2 Pianos 4 Hands at the Milwaukee Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Laguna Playhouse. He has extensive credits as a conductor and musical director, and is currently the principal conductor of Skylight Opera Theatre. Also returning to Hartford Stage is Tom Frey (Ted). Frey has worked at regional theatres across the United States, including Cleveland Playhouse, Geva Theatre in Rochester, and Pittsburgh Public. He appeared in the national tour of 2 Pianos 4 Hands throughout the U.S. and Canada. Director Richard Greenblatt, who co-wrote the play with Ted Dykstra, has directed numerous original productions for the stage and has been a co-writer on some of the most successful new plays in recent Canadian theatre history (2 Pianos 4 Hands, The Theory of Relatives, i.d., and Sibs). His one-man show, Letters from Lehrer, featuring the words and music of American song satirist Tom Lehrer, was recently presented at Canadian Stage Company.
Co-writer Ted Dykstra is a well-known award-winning performer in Canada, having played leading roles on every major stage in the country, including three years at the Shaw Festival and three seasons at the Stratford Festival. He has played the title roles in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hamlet and Amadeus and is a founding member of Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre.
Scenic and lighting design is by Steve Lucas.
Tickets are $25 to $45. Evening performances are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 PM and Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinee performances are Saturdays, Sundays, Thursday, July 20 and Wednesday, July 26 at 2 PM. For information, call the Hartford Stage box office at (860) 527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.
