American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, presents Ensemble Member Ian Paul Custer who will perform Piano Man, celebrating 50 years of the music of Billy Joel, on Friday, May 21 at 7pm Central as part of “The Garage” series.
About Piano Man
Performed by Ensemble Member Ian Paul Custer
The Music Director is Artistic Affiliate Zachary Stevenson.
May 21 at 7pm Central
In 1971, Billy Joel debuted his first album. Fifty years later, award winning Ensemble Member Ian Paul Custer will pay tribute to one of the most iconic American singer/songwriters of all time by playing hits from Cold Springs, Piano Man, Turnstiles and The Stranger for one-night only, live on Zoom.
“The Garage” music series features the musical talent of American Blues Ensemble Members and Artistic Affiliates and will run monthly for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following every concert, stay in the virtual space to meet the artists.
Reserve tickets HERE or call (773) 654-3103 until Friday, May 21 at 3:00 PM Central. Suggested donation is $25 or pay-what-you-can.
About the Artists
Ian Paul Custer he/him (performer, Piano Man) is a Chicago actor and musician and a proud Ensemble Member of American Blues Theater. Chicago credits: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Jeff Award, Best Ensemble, Best Musical – Midsize), The Columnist, Little Shop of Horrors, and It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (American Blues Theater), Bad Jews (Theatre Wit), 33 Variations (Jeff Award– Best Production, Midsize), and To Master the Art (TimeLine Theatre), Annie Bosh is Missing (Steppenwolf Theatre), High Holidays (Goodman Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof (Paramount Theatre). Regional credits: Hero: The Musical (Asolo Rep Theatre), Cymbeline (Notre Dame Shakespeare), Romeo and Juliet (Cardinal Stage), Peter Pan (360 Entertainment – London, England). Television credits: APB, Empire, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD. Ian received his BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University, where he was a Sarah Siddons and Helen Kinsella Scholar during his time there.
As a musician, Ian is primarily a jazz and blues piano player. Theatrically, he has played piano in the orchestra for Spitfire Grill and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story with American Blues Theater and has also composed and accompanied music for the Silent Theater Company’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Ian played piano with the band Nina and the Specifics for a number of years. He also plays guitar, accordion, harmonica, saxophone, and the spoons. Special thanks to Wendy, Zach Stevenson, Chris Johnson Gordon & Scott Gordon, Josh Moshier, David Kellen and my wife, Shannon Pritchard, for listening to me practice Billy Joel for hours every day during our Chicago quarantine.
Zachary Stevenson he/him (Music Director, Piano Man) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. He is an award-winning actor, musician and writer. Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Zachary has been coined a “dead ringer for dead singers” by the Victoria Times Colonist for his portrayals of Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, Phil Ochs and roles based on Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. In 2018, Zachary won the Jeff Award in Chicago for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical) for The Buddy Holly Story, a role he’s honed in more than a dozen productions across Canada and the United States. Other acting highlights include Million Dollar Quartet, Hair, Urinetown, Assassins, and Company. Zachary has produced and recorded five independent albums and tours frequently as a musician. He is also active as a music director on productions such as Ring of Fire and Million Dollar Quartet, American Idiot
(upcoming). He is currently writing an American Blues commissioned solo show based on the life of folksinger, Phil Ochs.
Cara Parrish she/her (stage manager) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater where she is also the Office Manager / HR Coordinator. Chicago credits: Gem of the Ocean, Electra, Hard Problem, Photograph 51, Five Guys Named Moe, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, & Lady From the Sea (Court Theatre); WITCH, Port Authority, Yellow Moon, The Letters, The Caretaker, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, & The Blond, The Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead (Writers Theatre); Too Heavy for Your Pocket & The Vibrator Play (TimeLine Theatre Company); James and the Giant Peach (Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook); Jabari Dreams of Freedom (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, Emma, (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Beauty’s Daughter, & Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (American Blues Theater). Cara is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
About American Blues Theater
Winner of the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home. American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves.
The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago. As of 2020, the theater and artists received 221 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 40 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.