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LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE presents
the First Show of its 2023-2024 Season…
2 PIANOS 4 HANDS
Written by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt
Directed by Tom Frey
THE IVORY TICKLING BEGINS WEDNESDAY, JULY 5
AT THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE IN LAGUNA BEACH!
“A masterful blend of comedy, storytelling, and outstanding piano talent! Not to be missed!” – StageandCinema.com
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to present the first show of its 2023-2024 season, the hilarious international musical sensation, 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS, written by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt and directed by Tom Frey. 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS begins previews on Wednesday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 9 at 5:30pm (press opening); and perform through Sunday, July 23 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach.
Get ready for an interlude of laughter and music as 2 men, or “4 hands,” take us on a journey about their would-be careers as concert pianists. The talented duo trade stories about piano lessons, pushy parents and eccentric teachers while playing everything from Bach to Billy Joel. Both hilarious and touching, the musical comedy captures the humor that comes with the path to becoming a pianist, as well as the sense of loss attached with eventually learning to let go of your wildest dreams. “A rare jewel of real entertainment, 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS not only hits all the right notes, but tickles the ivories and your funny bone too!” (The Daily Mail)
TOM FREY (Director) is the new artistic director of the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire, as well as the U.S. resident director of 2 Pianos 4 Hands. He has directed over 20 productions of 2P4H at theatres around the country, including: Portland Stage, The Cape Playhouse, Stages Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Pittsburgh City Theatre, the Rubicon, and many others. In addition to directing the show, he has performed the show over 600 times in the United States and Canada. He has played both roles, but spent most of his time playing the role of “Ted.”
TED DYKSTRA (Co-Creator/Original Co-Director) started playing piano at age six, and peaked at age twelve, when he had a particularly memorable string of firsts competing in the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival. His acting career began at a young age in St Albert, Alberta, playing the 2nd Bird in Once Upon a Clothesline, but his breakout role was Bilbo Baggins in his school’s grade eight production of The Hobbit. Since then, he has gone on to play leading roles on every major stage in Canada.
RICHARD GREENBLATT (Co-Creator/Original Co-Director) is an actor, director, writer, and musician who has been a professional theatre artist for the last 49 years. He was born in Montréal and studied piano for 10 years with the late Professor Dorothy Morton of the McGill Conservatory of Music. He studied theatre at Dawson College before pursuing his acting training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. Upon graduating, he worked at Leeds Playhouse for a season, returning to Canada in 1975. Since then, he has performed in theatres in Toronto, across Canada, and abroad.
The Cast of 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS features:
JEFFERSON MCDONALD (Ted) is pleased to bring his passion for acting and music to the Laguna Playhouse stage in his fifth production of 2 Pianos 4 Hands (North Coast Rep, Cincy Playhouse, Peterborough Players, Mayfield Dinner Theater). A three-time Broadway World Award winner and recipient of the Cincy Beat Award for Best Musical Actor, Jefferson has brought his passion for drama, comedy, and music to stages all over the United States and Canada. Growing up on an organic poultry farm, Jefferson realized he had dexterous fingers as the fastest chicken gutter in Upstate New York. He soon realized his fingers could move just as fast playing Mozart and at age eleven he started pursuing music aggressively.
MATTHEW MCGLOIN (Richard) is honored to team up again with Jefferson & Tom, having previously collaborated with them on 2 Pianos 4 Hands at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Peterborough Players, and the Mayfield Theatre. NY/Off-Broadway: The Hello Girls (Prospect Theater Company/59E59, OCR), Bastard Jones (The Cell), Casablanca Box (HERE Arts), Xanadu (Piper Theatre), workshops/readings with Tectonic Theater Project, Abingdon Theatre Company, Dixon Place, The Lark. Regional: Cabaret (Peterborough Players), The Play That Goes Wrong (Repertory Theatre St. Louis), Murder for Two (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre), Beautiful Star (Triad Stage), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Signature Theatre), Misalliance, Cinderella (Olney Theatre Center), As You Like It (Folger Theatre), History on Foot (Ford’s Theatre), various shows at The Kennedy Center and Virginia Shakespeare Festival.
The Design Team for 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS features Scenic Design by Marty Burnett; Lighting Design by Matthew Novotny; Sound Design by Ian Scot. The Production Stage Manager is Vernon Willett.
2 PIANOS 4 HANDS will preview on Wednesday, July 5 at 7:30pm; Thursday, July 6 at 2pm & 7:30pm; Friday, July 7 at 7:30pm & Saturday, July 8 at 2pm & 7:30pm; will open on Sunday, July 9 at 5:30pm (press opening) and perform through Sunday, July 23 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach.
Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm. There will be added performances on Thursday, July 13 at 2:00pm and Tuesday, July 18 at 7:30pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, July 23 at 5:30pm.
Tickets range from $50 – $81 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. Prices subject to change.
The box office is open Tuesdays – Sundays: 12pm to 4pm; Mondays open 2 hours prior to show time and until 15 minutes after curtain. Open until showtime on all performance days.
