David Leopold has been taking audiences around the country on a tour of the Hirschfeld Century, an 82-year era in which Al Hirschfeld both recorded and defined so much of popular culture, especially through his drawings of productions on Broadway and in Hollywood. Hirschfeld was there at the birth of television and captured its first half-century. He recorded more popular music than any MP3, CD, LP, or wax cylinder ever did. His drawings of dance are among his most accomplished works. Leopold has spent twenty-five years studying Hirschfeld’s work, the first thirteen as Hirschfeld’s Archivist, visiting him in his studio once or twice a week. He now is the Creative Director of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation.

Leopold’s illustrated talks show rarely seen images as well as old favorites in a unique presentation that is never the same twice. He not only tells Hirschfeld’s story but shares with audiences stories from the world of show business that Hirschfeld so expertly captured in his work.

Many of his talks are free and open to the public (and are also a great opportunity to get a signed copy of The Hirschfeld Century), so join him at one of his upcoming talks this fall.

September 21- NYU Center for Ballet & the Arts talk @ 6:00pm

September 29- Art’s Student League Panel @ 6:30pm

                        “The Hirschfeld Century Speaks” With Bill Jacklin, Drew

                        Friedman, Ken Fallin, & Stephen Kroninger

September 30- The Coffee House Club @ 6:00pm (Invitation only)

October 1- JCC in Tennafly, NJ @ 1:00pm

October 7- Del Val University in Doylestown PA @ 10:00am

October 19- The Lamb’s Club @ 6:00pm

October 26- Loyola Marymount University @ 7:00pm

                  Presenting to a class in design history in cartoons and comics

October 28- Disney Animation Studio @ 12:00pm (Invitation only)

October 29- Dreamworks Animation Studio @ 12:00pm (Invitation only)

November 3- Skirball Center LA

November 5- New York Public Library for the Performing Arts @ 6:00pm

November 17- New York Public Library Mid Manhattan Branch @ 6:30pm

November 22- Westport Library Connecticut @ 3:00pm

December 7- Philadelphia Free Library @ 7:00pm