LEFT ALONE RHAPSODY - CAST
JOHN BAYLESS
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John and Stewart collaborated creatively early in their careers, with John as composer, and Stewart as filmmaker. Then their paths diverged—their work lives taking them on their respective journeys—though their friendship has lasted through the years. Tragically, in his fifties, John’s musical career halted when he suffered a debilitating stroke. Five years ago, when John told Stewart he was not only playing the piano again but recording an album of his greatest hits reimagined for just his left hand alone and using Yamaha’s Disklavier technology on some cuts to sound like he’s playing with two hands, Stewart blurted out: “John, this is a documentary! We must tell your story!” And a truly amazing journey began—one that has taken the pair of old friends around the world collaborating on a film about a man’s art and his courage in the face of great adversity.
STEWART M. SCHULMAN
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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” is considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards. His Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe—from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the White House and Buckingham Palace—plus his work as an educator and archivist, define Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time.
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MADELYN RENÉE
Madelyn Renée, (a close friend of John’s since their days at Juilliard), made her debut as Mimi in La Bohème opposite Luciano Pavarotti. Since then, she has performed more than thirty-five operatic roles in major opera houses—from the Metropolitan Opera to Teatro alla Scala, been soloist with orchestras under the baton of renowned international conductors and appeared with Pavarotti in concert at venues including The Kennedy Center, Avery Fisher Hall, and Madison Square Garden. Ms. Renée interviewed opera stars hosting her own show on Italian TV, was cast in The Godfather III, and appears in Ron Howard’s documentary “Pavarotti: Genius Is Forever.”
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MARK MCEWEN
Mark McEwen is an American television and radio personality best known for being on the CBS network Morning show for 16 years and host of A&E’s Live by Request. In 2005, he suffered a stroke which ended his TV career, and forced him to learn to walk and talk again, and like former right-hander, John Bayless, learn to use his left hand to perform most tasks. Post-stroke, Mark has done stroke awareness commercials for WKMG-TV, published a book about his health challenges entitled Change in the Weather: Life after Stroke, given motivational speeches around the country, and was named a Stroke Ambassador by the American Stroke Association for his "advocacy, leadership and philanthropy."
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SATOKO MIYAHARA
Satoko Miyahara (宮原 知子, Miyahara Satoko) is a Japanese world figure skating champion. She is the 2015 World silver medalist, the 2018 World bronze medalist, the 2016 Four Continents champion, a two-time Four Continents silver medalist (2014, 2015), a two-time Grand Prix silver medalist (2015, 2016), a two-time Skate America champion (2017, 2018), and a four-time Japanese national champion (2014–17). She placed 4th at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where John Bayless discovered she was skating to piano music from his Puccini album. She has since retired from competitive skating but continues to skate in exhibition shows around the world.
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STEVE ROSS
Steve Ross has delighted and beguiled both international audiences and the cabaret community in Manhattan for decades. He has performed in huge out-of-door venues, in Broadway houses and on theatre stages globally, yet is equally successful in bringing his unique brand of Manhattan sophistication to cabarets and intimate events all over the world. The Transatlantic Songbook is alive and well in the hands of this elegant and seasoned performer who turns every evening into an exciting Cafe Society event.
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WINNIE HOLZMAN
Winnie Holzman is an American dramatist, screenwriter, and poet. She is known for having created the ABC television series My So-Called Life, which led to a nomination for a scriptwriting Emmy Award in 1995, as well as her work writing for thirtysomething and Once and Again. Holzman has garnered fame for her work on Broadway, most notably for co-writing the smash stage musical Wicked. Winnie and John met as students in NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater program.
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ROBERT L. FREEDMAN
Robert L. Freedman is a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award winning writer for the Tony-winning Best Musical of 2014, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, which he created with composer and co-lyricist Steven Lutvak. Among his television career highlights, Robert won (or was nominated for) awards for HBO's A Deadly Secret, the miniseries Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, What Makes A Family, What Love Sees, as well as the highly-rated true crime dramas Murder In The Hamptons, The Pastor's Wife, Honor Thy Mother, and Bitter Blood. Robert and John met as students in NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater program.
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STEVEN LUTVAK
Steven Lutvak is a Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award winning composer for the Tony-winning Best Musical of 2014, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, which he created with book-writer and co-lyricist Robert L. Freedman. His other musicals include Almost September, The Wayside Motor Inn, and Esmeralda. He scored Off-Broadway’s Hannah Senesh, wrote the title track to Paramount’s hit film, Mad Hot Ballroom, and the score to the film Anything But Love. As a singer/songwriter, Steven has performed his songs around the country. His two CDs are: The Time It Takes and Ahead of My Heart. Steven and John met as students in NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater program.
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MIA PINERO
Mia Pinero made her Broadway debut as Maria while understudying in Ivo Van Hove's revival of West Side Story. She has performed at prestigious theaters, including the Guthrie, and Paper Mill Playhouse, where she starred alongside Carolee Carmello in Songs For a New World. On camera, Mia was in Law and Order: SVU, a CitiBank commercial where she got to eat BBQ chicken wings (a favorite), on The Today Show, and as a cast member of the revival of Sweeney Todd with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, on the 2023 Tony Awards. Her solo debut album, Growing Up, is available on all streaming platforms. IG: @miapinero
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HEIDI LATSKY
Heidi Latsky is an internationally renowned choreographer and moving force in the dance world. She began her career as the "Disco Queen" of Montreal, became a celebrated principal dancer for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance, performed on TV, in films and music videos, and formed her own company, Heidi Latsky Dance—all the while delighting audiences and wowing critics worldwide. Her collaboration with disabled interdisciplinary artist Lisa Bufano became the catalyst for an artistic shift in the mission of her company towards inclusivity and unconventional diversity, reflecting the true diverse nature of the world we live in. HLD brings thought-provoking dynamic work to broad audiences by disrupting space, dismantling normal, and redefining beauty and virtuosity through innovative performance and discourse.
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LISA NAKAMICHI
Lisa Nakamichi, an award-winning concert pianist, originally from Japan and raised in Hawaii, received her musical education at Juilliard. She made her debut at the Tokyo Cultural Hall and has gone on to concertize at major venues with philharmonic and symphony orchestras in Japan, the United States, and Europe. Lisa has been called “born to play Mozart” and is known for her exquisite performances of Mozart’s music. She performs regularly with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and is a founder of the Aloha International Piano Festival, where John Bayless has performed and judged. Lisa is a frequent judge of international piano competitions and is on the Artistic Committee of the Palm Springs International Piano Competition.
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VALERIE WILSON HICKS
Valerie Wilson Hicks is a Juilliard trained opera singer and classmate of John Bayless. Before even graduating she performed two solo concerts at Lincoln Center. She has since sung at a concert hosted by Bob Hope, performed the National Anthem at Radio City, appeared as a member of the star-studded Comic Relief cast on Saturday Night Live with Buster Poindexter and Chrissy Hynde of The Pretenders, recorded humorous mock commercials for Saturday Night Live, and sung on Pink Floyd's, The Wall, where she also contracted opera singers to join her in singing the cut entitled, Bring The Boys Back Home. That contract served as her entrée into starting VAMNation Entertainment, a talent management company for professional singers and actors.
JEFFREY SWANN
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Jeffrey Swann enjoys an international performing and recording career playing with orchestras around the world. After studying piano with John Bayless’ Juilliard teacher, Adele Marcus, Jeffrey went on to win prestigious piano competitions internationally. His repertoire includes more than 60 concertos and solo works ranging from Bach to Boulez. Jeffrey is also a renowned Wagner scholar presenting lecture/recitals worldwide. His writing’s been published by Oxford University Press. He served as artistic director of the Dino Ciani Festival & Academia (Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy) and the Scuola Normale Superiore’s Concert Series (Pisa). He is currently Professor of Piano at NYU and the President’s Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Northern Arizona University, where he was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate.
BERNADENE BLAHA
Bernadene Blaha's “brilliant command of the piano,” featured live and on recordings, has been heralded worldwide. Piano and Keyboard magazine reviewed her as, “a pianist of integrity, with lovely sonorities and total clarity of line.” Originally from Canada, Bernadene graduated from Juilliard shortly after John Bayless, and got international attention winning numerous piano competitions. She is a founding member of the piano trio Latitude 41, with violinist Livia Sohn and cellist Luigi Piovano. Their debut CD got rave reviews. Bernadene has received awards as a teacher, adjudicator and clinician, been a juror for the Waring Piano Competition, and is a Keyboard Faculty member at the Thornton School of Music, USC, where she is a professor.
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JON NAKAMATSU
Now in his third decade of touring worldwide, American pianist Jon Nakamatsu continues to draw critical and public acclaim for his intensity, elegance and electrifying solo, concerto and chamber music performances. Catapulted to international attention in 1997 as the Gold Medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition—the only American to achieve this distinction since 1981. Jon subsequently developed a multi-faceted career that encompasses recording, education, arts administration, and public speaking in addition to his vast concert schedule performing as a guest soloist with orchestras led by esteemed conductors worldwide. He even performed at the White House for President and Mrs. Clinton in 1999.
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EVAN LIN
Evan Lin, of Hawaii, has won more titles, trophies, and contests than pianists twice his age. He graduated from Stanford University and currently lives and works in New York. In March of 2011, Evan was one of six semi-finalists in the Intermediate Solo category, (12–17-year-olds), of the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition in Palm Desert, California. Each semi-finalist was required to play the world premiere of WINTER TABLEAU, a ballade for left hand, by John Bayless, with just their left hand alone. Evan won the competition.
DANIEL LESSNER
Daniel Lessner is a composer and producer creating music in multimedia platforms. He began scoring after receiving his master’s degree from Juilliard. Since then, Daniel has composed main themes and soundtracks for more than 70 films, documentaries, and television shows. His first projects were composed in a variety of styles, including scores for CBS’ 48 Hours, ABC’s Monday Night Football, The New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, themes for The Phoenix Suns, and NFL Films. He has also scored numerous commercials for companies including IBM, Citibank, American Express and Gillette. Daniel and John met in the 1970’s through their mutual teacher, Adele Marcus.
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LEANNE BRYAN
Leanne Bryan is John’s younger sister. She is the ‘baby’ of four children, three boys and one girl. John is the eldest. Leanne worked in local broadcast news and was a disc jockey/ radio personality in Amarillo, Texas. She is the mother of Abbot and Colby, who are in the film as young children. It was ultimately seeing her brother through Abbot and Colby’s young eyes, especially the love they showed for their uncle Johnny and his ‘friend’ Bruce, that changed Leanne’s outlook on life. Leanne and John remain incredibly close siblings to this day.
NYLE BRENNER
Nyle Brenner has been a personal manager and producer in New York and Los Angeles since 1990. He represents actors, writers, directors, composers, choreographers, comedians, hosts and personalities who work in all areas of film, television and the theater. Nyle met John when he was working at The William Morris Agency in NYC, and shortly thereafter attended John’s Carnegie Hall debut, where he wowed the audience with his performance of Rhapsody in Blue.
ALEX MONTI
Alex Monti is an actor and musician living in New York City. Artistically, he strives to create dynamic new musical forms in his compositions. He grew up in Italy and and even as a young boy, Alex loved when ‘Uncle Johnny’ would come to the house and visit his mother, opera singer, Madelyn Renée, because “when Johnny would come, there was always a lot of joy and laughter in the house.”
BONNIE BARRETT
Bonnie Barrett, director of Yamaha Artist Services, Inc., was named one of Musical America's Top 30 Professionals of 2018, a list recognizing the most innovative and accomplished individuals in the music industry. A pianist herself, Barrett began her professional career in artist management (CAMI), followed by executive positions in the recording industry (Sony, EMI, ECM, BMG) and at Steinway & Sons. Since joining Yamaha, Bonnie augmented the artist relations program, expanded its classical and jazz piano artist roster, Executive Produced groundbreaking Disklavier recordings and DisklavierTV broadcasts, produced concerts, and created partnerships with music festivals, concert venues and educational institutions.
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DR. MARK TRAMO
Neurology specialist and published songwriter-member of ASCAP, Mark Jude Tramo, MD PhD is Director of The Institute for Music & Brain Science, a founding member of its Executive Board, Co-Director of the University of California Multi-Campus Music Research Initiative, Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Adjunct Professor in Ethnomusicology at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Dr. Tramo founded the world's first Music and the Brain course at Harvard College in 1997 and has since received numerous awards and research grants for his groundbreaking scientific work. He has been published in leading medical and musical journals and has lectured at prominent scientific and cultural venues around the world.
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KAY FOLMAR
For over 20 years, Kay Folmar has held concurrent positions as a practicing physical therapist—as owner of Next Step Physical Therapy in Palm Desert, and as a speaker and teacher—as co-founder of NeuroPro Education. Kay’s practice at Next Step challenges her to find solutions for each patient so they may participate in the activities of their choice, even activities they may have been told to “give up” as unrealistic. Her teaching challenges her to engage and inspire therapists to reach beyond the expectations of conventional therapy, to find unique solutions in every case, to get results in activities in real environments (their home). Kay finds her clinical work informs her teaching and, likewise, the rigors of teaching inform her practice.
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DR. JUDITH LUSTIG
Dr. Judith Lustig, MD is a neurology specialist in Livingston, NJ, with over 40 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
SILVANA DE JONGE
Silvana de Jonge is a retired psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay area. She worked with John prior to and after his debilitating stroke. He is ever grateful for her professionalism, and the keen insights which helped him make it through the darkest days of his life.
SANDY BOCK
Sandy Bock is John’s current physical therapist. She is a dynamic, intuitive guide for him. He may call her bossy and willful, but he knows she always has his best interest at heart. Sandy is also an accomplished personal chef, and a great mother to twins Emma, and Gavin—who is the gentleman walking John across the McCallum Theater stage at the end of the film.
RHONA FORSTADT
Rhona Forstadt is a long-time friend of John’s. They met, (and became dear friends), when her father, Nat Lefkowitz, CEO of The William Morris Agency, took an interest in creating a division at the agency to represent unique crossover artists like John Bayless. It was through Sally and Nat Lefkowitz that John met people connected to the music industry who arranged his breakout Carnegie Hall debut playing Rhapsody in Blue when he was just in his mid-twenties, which catapulted him to international stardom as a performer and recording artist.
PEGGY CRAVENS
Peggy Cravens, a former child singing star, became a philanthropic force in the Coachella Valley supporting causes including College of the Desert, ACT for MS, the Palm Springs Air Museum, the McCallum Theatre, and the Palm Springs Opera Guild. Her passion for the performing arts and the support of young people in educational and artistic endeavors led to her becoming chairman of the board, (now Chairman Emeritus), of the Palm Springs International Piano Competition (formerly the Waring International Piano Competition). Peggy Cravens passed away in 2022.
ANN GREER
As the PR/Advertising Liaison for the Palm Springs Air Museum and Executive Director for the Waring International Piano Competition, Ann Greer brought her love for the arts to the desert community. Greer has led a life of travel, music, and insightful experience that shaped her into the free spirit she is today. As Executive Director for the Waring, Ann worked with the board of directors, oversaw the part-time staff, did publicity, collaborated with different committees, and took great joy meeting the young pianists and watching their careers blossom.
GLORIA GREER
Gloria Greer, was a notable journalist in the Coachella Valley, appearing on the pages of many big-name publications and being the Society Editor at Palm Springs Life Magazine. She also wrote for Daily Variety, Newsweek, and Town & Country, and she was the entertainment editor for KMIR-TV for 20 years and hosted her own TV show on Time-Warner and PBS.
RABBI ANDREW BENTLEY
Rabbi Andrew Bentley grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community in London. His love of Torah and the Jewish religion led Andrew to the rabbinate and his eventual immigration to Israel. His love of music led Andrew to becoming a working guitarist and composer and playing in local bands. Rabbi Bentley moved to California to become Rabbi at Temple Sinai of Palm Desert. It was during his tenure there that he guided John Bayless on his spiritual journey.
GAIL JACOBS
Gail Jacobs has taught beginning and advanced Hebrew for decades. As a congregant of Temple Sinai of Palm Desert, she became John Bayless’s Hebrew teacher. Post stroke, John had time to explore religious questions he’d left unanswered since childhood. Gail and her husband, Saul, became John’s spiritual family, and were incredibly supportive to him on that quest, as they were to him during his husband, Bruce’s, illness.
PAULA KAMINSKY DAVIS
Paula Kaminsky Davis is a producer and investor for Broadway/off-Broadway, independent film, as well as the cabaret 54 Below. She was a producer on Rock of Ages and Murder for Two, a co/assoc producer on The Heidi Chronicles, Tail Spin!, Ann, Peter on Tour, and Becoming Dr. Ruth. Paula’s not-for-profit philanthropy supports many worthy organizations including The Museum of Broadway, Roundabout Theatre, Entertainment Community Fund, and Primary Stages. She is a Board member of The Drama League. During her past years as a Social Work Administrator, Paula produced health videos.
LAURA MOGUL
When Landmark on Main Street named Laura Mogul as the organization’s new executive director she came to the position as a seasoned veteran in marketing, event management and client service at Revlon, J Walter Thompson, and ABC Television. As well, Laura has had a long history of community service and volunteerism with high visibility in many local organizations. Among her community leadership roles, she served as president of the Port Washington Board of Education, the Port Summer Show and the Port Washington Education Foundation, an organization she helped found. As Executive Director of Landmark Laura presented the premiere of John’s one-man show ONE HAND ONE HEART. Now retired, she continues her work volunteering for various worthy organizations.
J. ROBERT SPENCER
Robert John Spencer, known as J. Robert Spencer, is an American musical theatre and television actor, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his work in the Broadway musical Next to Normal. His Broadway debut was as a "swing" in the musical Side Show. He went on to star as "Nick Massi" in the original Broadway cast of the musical Jersey Boys. For television Robert has appeared on Law & Order, All My Children, and Girls Behaving Badly. He also formed his own company, "7 Spencer Productions", for which he produces, writes, directs and acts in his own low-budget movies.
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MEREDITH FAGES
Meredith Fages is a professional dancer and writer—described by Deborah Jowitt as a “remarkable dancer...adept in some society of the future, a primal, near-aquatic creature slipping around in a watery world...". Meredith has performed with Karole Armitage, Alexandra Beller, Monica Bill Barnes, David Hallberg/Francesco Vezzoli, Deborah Hay, Heidi Latsky, Elizabeth Motley, Palissimo, Jimena Paz, Laura Peterson, Sarah Skaggs, Steeledance, Virginia Ballet Theater. Her writing has appeared in Dance Magazine and Dance Teacher.
JERRON HERMAN
Jerron Herman is a soulful, driven artist committed to collaboration & joy—an award-winning dancer, choreographer and writer compelled to create images of freedom. He was a core member of Heidi Latsky Dance through 2019, and since joined Disability Arts collective Kinetic Light as a choreographic collaborator. In 2021 Jerron developed a speaking series for the Joyce Theater called Discourse: Disabled Artists at the Joyce, bringing together NYC-based disabled artists to showcase their work. His writings on arts and culture have been published internationally, and he serves as an Ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, regularly working with designers and artisans as a featured model, to realize beauty.
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JILLIAN HOLLIS