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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Sunday Afternoon in North Hollywood: "Play Me, I'm Yours" Piano at El Portal Theatre


We were driving up Lankershim in North Hollywood this afternoon and stopped when we saw the "Play Me, I'm Yours" piano in front of El Portal Theatre a couple of blocks north of Magnolia.

Luckily, just at that moment, people who actually could play the piano, and play it very well indeed, had just come by to begin a really nice set.

In the last couple of summers we've seen all sorts of funky "Play Me, I'm Yours" pianos all over New York City, and now they are all over Los Angeles, too.

"Play Me, I'm Yours" is public arts project by British artist Luke Jerram that has been touring internationally since 2008. For three weeks beginning April 12, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) brings this public art installation to various locations in Los Angeles, including the NoHo Arts District,

hosted at El Portal Theatre. Thirty pianos, designed and decorated by local artists and community organizations, and are available for everyone to play, in celebration of acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane’s 15th anniversary as the LACO music director.

We're grateful we got to see this piano played by someone who actually could play and hope we can see some more street pianos around town while they're here in L.A.

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