Some believe ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ was staged somewhere in the world every day since the ’60s. COVID-19 ended that.

June 17, 2020

By STEPHEN SILVER

(JTA) — The coronavirus pandemic has done something that no war, natural disaster or other calamity has been able to do for more than 50 years: It’s put a stop to stage performances of “Fiddler on the...

‘The Prince of Egypt’ composer on the musical theater adaptation, his career and his family’s Passover tradition

April 15, 2020

(JTA) — “The Prince of Egypt” is having another moment in the desert sun.

The 1998 animated film on Moses and the Exodus story has been turned into a recent musical in London. It’s streaming on Hulu. And in the...

Harold Rome subject of Dansker lecture tonight at Touro

January 31, 2020

George Dansker will be holding his annual lecture tonight on a Jewish composer tonight following services at Touro Synagogue, 4238 St. Charles Avenue. This time, though,  the subject is not nearly as well known as those for whom he has...

Hillary Clinton gets ‘tears in her eyes’ after watching Yiddish ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

December 30, 2019

NEW YORK (JTA) — Anatevka had a special guest in attendance on Sunday afternoon: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the Yiddish production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” or “Fidler Afn Dakh,” at Stage 42 in Manhattan.

Following the...

Jerry Herman, composer of ‘Hello Dolly!’ and other Broadway hits, dies at 88

December 28, 2019

(JTA) — Composer Jerry Herman, who wrote music and lyrics for Broadway hits including “Hello, Dolly!” and “La Cage aux Folles,” died at the age of 88.

Herman, who was diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s, died in Miami on...

The king of farce’s new play is inspired by his parents’ love letters

November 29, 2019

By CURT SCHLEIER

(JTA) — You may not know who Ken Ludwig is, but you almost certainly know his work. Ludwig is the reigning king of theatrical farce. Among his 28 plays are six that made it to Broadway and...

Jewish Women’s Theatre to Perform at Shir Chadash; Tickets on Sale

November 13, 2019

By NICHOLAS HAMBURGER, Special to the CCJN

The Jewish Women’s Theatre will perform The Matzo Ball Diaries tonight at Shir Chadash Conservative Synagogue in Metairie.

The show begins at 7:30 PM, marking the fifth leg of the Santa Monica-based theater group’s week-long...

National tour of ‘Wicked’ canceled due to hotel collapse

October 15, 2019

By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“)

The partial collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel under construction in New Orleans on Saturday, October 12, sent tons of debris and a crane across the street impacting the historic Saenger Theater...

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in Yiddish makes a match

September 22, 2019

(JTA) — It’s life imitating art over at New York City’s off-Broadway production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish.

Stephanie Lynne Mason and Drew Seigla, who play the young couple Hodl and Perchik in the production, are engaged, the...

There’s a lot you can learn about the Talmud from kung fu movies, according to a new play

September 05, 2019

By JOSEFIN DOLSTEN

NEW YORK (JTA) — In trying to understand the often esoteric arguments of the Talmud, people often turn to teachers, dictionaries and a range of other study aids. Jesse Freedman has found another helpful, albeit unexpected source:...