Helen Schneider—the New York cabaret favorite who later became a musical theatre star in Germany, where she played Norma Desmond in the country's first production of Sunset Boulevard—is returning to Manhattan to play the late Leonard Bernstein in Peter Danish's Last Call Off-Broadway.
Directed by Gil Mehmert, performances will begin at New World Stages March 12 prior to an official opening March 16 for a limited engagement through May 4.
Joining Schneider on stage will be Lucca Züchner as Herbert von Karajan and Victor Petersen as Michael, the waiter.
For half a century, American conductor and composer Bernstein and Austrian conductor von Karajan were the world's most celebrated figures in classical music and fierce rivals. Late in their lives they unexpectedly crossed paths one last time at the Sacher Hotel in Vienna.
Inspired by true events, Last Call brings audiences to this meeting as both men struggle to find common ground through their music and their lives over one last drink. The play mixes storytelling and music.
“A few years ago, I was in Vienna on vacation, and I stopped by the Sacher Hotel for a piece of Sacher Torte,” said playwright Danish in a statement. “My reading material was the recently published collection of Bernstein's letters. When the waiter brought me my cake and coffee, he noticed the book. He said he waited on Maestro Bernstein many times, and proceeded to tell me an incredible story about the night before Karajan's final performances in Vienna, when Karajan and Bernstein crossed paths in the lobby of the famous hotel and sat in the famous Blaue Bar for a last drink. This story inspired me to write this play.”
The upcoming production will also have scenic design by Chris Barreca, costume design by Renè Neumann, lighting design by Michael Grundner, original music and sound design by Lindsay Jones, and video and projection design by Austin Switser.
Last Call is general managed by Perry Street Theatricals. Frank Blase and Marc Schneider produce, and the executive producer is Martin Platt.
Visit LastCallThePlay.com.
