Itzik Manger News

Artists and performers from around the world join National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) to celebrate Purim virtually from February 22-25, 2021. The Purim Celebration features a stellar, star-studded line-up of Yiddish music, Cabaret, and a special reading of the Megiles Ester (The Book of Ester) in Yiddish.

The holiday of Purim has often been called “the Jewish Carnavale,” with the joys of song, laughter and drama folded into one, like tangy, fruit-filled hamantashen. That’s just the recipe for a Yiddishe Taam that the Yiddishkayt Initiative will be serving up at its first annual International VIRTUAL YI Love Yiddishfest – Purim Edition, Feb 25-28.

The Congress for Jewish Culture will continue its International Virtual Yiddish Theater series with MEGILLAH CYCLE, featuring an all-star international cast, directed and adapted by Mike Burstyn from Itzik Manger’s modernist take on the traditional Purim play.

Find out what happens to the beloved characters in Fiddler on the Roof after the musical ends. TEVYE SERVED RAW is an evening of Sholem Aleichem material, with adaptations of his Tevye stories (“What, Me Worthy?” and “Get Thee Gone!”), scenes from his own long-unseen Yiddish stage version, and three of his purely comedic stories, newly adapted (“Strange Jews on a Train,” “The Yiddish Sisyphus” and “A Stepmother’s Trash-Talk”). 

This June, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene brings the stage to global audiences when Folksbiene! LIVE features one-night only events, including Maida Feingold's a?oeThe Songs of Itzik Mangera?? and Vos-Ver-Vu: The Great Yiddish Theatre Quiz with Mikhl Yashinsky.

As May concludes, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (Folksbiene)-led by Zalmen Mlotek, Artistic Director, and Dominick Balletta, Executive Director-brings the stage to global audiences when Folksbiene! LIVE features 15-Minute Yiddish lessons and Lisa Fishman in Concert.

This week, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (Folksbiene)a?"led by Zalmen Mlotek, Artistic Director, and Dominick Balletta, Executive Directora?"brings the stage to global audiences with Folksbiene LIVE! on Monday, April 6 with Kvarentin Shmarentin or Humor on Kovid קװi??רענטין שמi??רענטין: ?"ומi??ר i??ן i??i??i?? featuring Leyzer Burko, Motl Didner and more.

From January 17 to 26, 2020, New Yiddish Rep will present a Yiddish language version of 'The Labor of Life' by Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin, translated by Eli Rosen, directed by Gera Sandler, at New Yiddish Rep's Cyrus and Rose Feldman Studio Theater, 315 W. 39 Street, 9th floor. This comedy, originally written in Hebrew, will be performed in Yiddish with projected English surtitles. It is a funny and very sad play of the missed opportunities, compromises and disillusionments demanded by the 'labor of life.' Originally presented at Israel's HaBima in June, 1989, it stands out among contemporary writings for its sardonic resonance to Israelis and Jews worldwide.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is will host the NYC premiere of THE SABBATH GIRL written by Cary Gitter and directed by Joe Brancato. Produced by Penguin Rep, THE SABBATH GIRL begins performances on Tuesday, February 11 for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 8. Press opening is Sunday, February 16 at 2:15 pm. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 7:15 pm; Saturday at 2:15 pm & 7:15 pm; Sunday at 2:15 pm. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $25 - $35 ($26 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call the 59E59 Box Office at 646-892-7999 or visit www.59e59.org. The running time is 90 minutes, with no intermission.

The Yiddishkayt Initiative (YI) (Avi Hoffman, Producing Artistic Director) and Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Artistic Director) have announced the full lineup of events for the inaugural YI Love New York YiddishFest. This selection of performances, screenings, and discussions centered around Jewish culture and Yiddish entertainment will play several New York City venues from December 21-29. Reservations are required for all events and can be made at www.yiddishfest.org.

Over nine days in Decembera?"coinciding with Chanukah 2019a?"Jewish cultural organizations from across New York will come together for YI Love New York YiddishFest. Produced by the Yiddishkayt Initiative (YI) (Avi Hoffman, Producing Artistic Director) and Theatre for the New City (Crystal Field, Artistic Director), the inaugural festival features a curated lineup of theatrical presentations, concerts, film screenings, lectures, panel discussions, and famous personalities in the world of Jewish culture from December 21-29. Tickets for all events are available online at www.yiddishfest.org.

TEVYE SERVED RAW made its New York premiere in 2018 to unanimous rave reviews ("Hilarious" - Jewish Standard; "Incredibly moving" - Tablet; "Brilliantly directed" - Forward) and, by popular demand, returned this year to its home at The Playroom Theater, 151 West 46 Street (just east of Seventh Ave.) There are only two more performances before the strictly limited engagement concludes tonight.

TEVYE SERVED RAW made its New York premiere in 2018 to unanimous rave reviews and, by popular demand, will return this Monday, January 28th to its home at The Playroom Theater, 151 West 46 Street (just east of Seventh Ave.), where it will play through February 13th.

The TEVYE SERVED RAW troupe – currently preparing to resume performances at The Playroom Theater – will present a selection from their show on April 15th at Carnegie Hall, as part of FROM SHTETL TO STAGE: A CELEBRATION OF YIDDISH MUSIC AND CULTURE. The evening will also feature Mike Burstyn, Paula Vogel, Avi Hoffman, Eleanor Reissa, Joanne Borts, Daniel Kahn, violinist Gil Shaham, and pianist Evgeny Kissin.   

Sholem Aleichem's Tevye stories formed the basis of Fiddler on the Roof. TEVYE SERVED RAW presents this material 'raw,' i.e., as it was created in Europe, before being Americanized for Broadway.

Casting is now complete for the Lyceum premiere of the fast-paced musical, Footloose, based on the movie and filled with all the songs that made that soundtrack an enduring classic.

Find out what happens to the beloved characters in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF after the musical ends. TEVYE SERVED RAW is an evening of Sholem Aleichem material, with adaptations of his 'Tevye' stories ('What, Me Worthy?' and 'Get Thee Gone!'), scenes from his own long-unseen Yiddish stage version, and three of his purely comedic stories, newly adapted ('Strange Jews on a Train,' 'The Yiddish Sisyphus' and 'A Stepmother's Trash-Talk'). The production is set to officially open next Tuesday, July 17th at The Playroom Theater in the Heart of the Theatre District, 151 West 46 Street (just east of Seventh Ave.)

Casting is now complete for the Lyceum premiere of the fast-paced musical, Footloose, based on the movie and filled with all the songs that made that soundtrack an enduring classic.

Find out what happens to the beloved characters in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF after the musical ends. TEVYE SERVED RAW is an evening of Sholem Aleichem material, with adaptations of his Tevye stories ("What, Me Worthy?" and "Get Thee Gone!"), scenes from his own long-unseen Yiddish stage version, and three of his purely comedic stories, newly adapted ("Strange Jews on a Train," "The Yiddish Sisyphus" and "A Stepmother's Trash-Talk").

A brand new video offering a sneak peek into the upcoming New York premiere of Tevye Served Raw made its debut today on YouTube. Watch it below!