In a space full of people where there was only room to stand, everyone eagerly applauded after every song performed by pianist Alan Weinstein and accompanied by his wife vocalist Phyllis “Filly Rose” Chasnoff.
The duo were part of the Remembering Broadway program Aug. 27 at the Villages Public Library at Pinellas Plaza, 7375 Powell Road.
During the event, they performed old hits from popular musicals including “My Fair Lady,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Cats,” “West Side Story,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and others for their first library performance.
“’Remembering Broadway’ has taken months to put together, but we loved every minute,” Weinstein said. “It incorporates new AI technologies, and I play a very special piano that has been customized for me.”
After seeing shows at the library, Weinstein said he thought there was a visual element missing to performances. He decided to incorporate a method similar to karaoke singing.
“I will play the background and they will sing,” he said. “There is some of that in our show but Phyllis sings four to five songs.”
Chasnoff said the couple was excited to bring the show from the living room to the library.
During the show, the pair was accompanied by an animated version of William Shakespeare, who assisted with explaining each song performed and giving brief history lessons on the projected screen.
There were visual aids throughout the show including clips from “The King and I” or “Phantom of the Opera.”
Chasnoff explained the songs performed during the show were from the couple’s childhood memories and shared love of musical theater.
Weinstein, who learned how to play the piano as a little boy, said that when he plays he still gets a feeling of euphoria that has gotten him through some of life’s tough moments.
“When I was overseas (in Okinawa) in the Army during the Vietnam War, my mother rented me a piano,” he said. “It was a difficult time for soldiers and she thought it would make it easier for me to extract myself from what was going on in the world.”
After working for 57 years as a computer software engineer, Weinstein considers this period as Act II and is determined to give back by sharing his love for music.
Along with performing in Brownwood and for private dinners, Weinstein and his wife perform at hospitals and for charitable organizations.
“I have found that being able to trigger peaceful and happy memories for those in age-related facilities or hospitals by playing music of their time is a gift that must be shared,” Weinstein said.
He explained what stayed with him the most is playing music for those with dementia.
“It is amazing to see someone with that condition open up and you can feel their remembering of that past,” he said. “There is no other feeling like that for me. After you stop playing they go back to their current mental state. I intend to pursue that here.”
He added he most enjoys performing with his wife, because he considers her his best friend.
“She is my support, rock and keeps me on track,” he said. “We are just two older people who like to bring joy to others in music. She still hesitates, but her gift, in my eyes, is to sing with emotion. I always told her that if she can’t get the audience to cry, she is not doing the song with enough emotion.”
Guests who attended the Remembering Broadway performance said that the event was fantastic with both Weinstein and Chasnoff being swarmed with guests giving them compliments after it was over.
To stay up to date on Weinstein, visit jayalan.org. Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
