The Pianist of Willesden Lane

March 26 – April 26

Based on the Book The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen

Adapted and Directed by Hershey Felder

An expression of hope and the life-affirming power of music, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the true story of a young Jewish musician, who was sent from Nazi-ruled Vienna to the relative safety of London during the Blitzkrieg. In this inspirational show, piano virtuoso Mona Golabek performs some of the world’s most beautiful music as she shares her own mother’s riveting story of survival.

“An astonishing tour de force…Stunningly good.”

–San Francisco Chronicle

Darko’s Comments…

Since premiering in 2012, The Pianist of Willesden Lane has riveted the audiences and the critics in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, and we are thrilled to bring it to Hartford. Performed by the piano virtuoso Mona Golabek, this is an inspirational story about her mother’s flight from the Nazi-ruled Vienna, her journey on the Kindertransport, and her life as a young musician in London during the Blitzkrieg.

The piece was adapted and directed by our friend Hershey Felder, known to Hartford Stage audiences from his pieces George Gershwin Alone and Monsieur Chopin. It is based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival. Beyond seeing this unique production, we invite you to read the book, and to introduce it to your reading groups, your families, friends, and students.