The New York City based Folksbiene Yiddish Theater had two separate two-week runs of a fully staged production of my Yiddish version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” – a.k.a. _Di Yam Gazlonim_. The March 18 – April 1, 2007 performances as well as the original run in Oct. 29 – Nov. 12, 2006 played to sold-out audiences. I attribute this to the 20 rave reviews in English, Yiddish, Hebrew & Russian newspapers & websites, including one by Lawrence Van Gelder in The NY Times. The web reviews brought young people of various ethnic groups to the performances. As a result _Di Yam Gazlonim_ was nominated by the New York drama critics for a 2007 Drama Desk Award in the “Outstanding Revival of a Musical” category. Click here for the 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations: http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/10609. [Scroll down to the 4th category – “Outstanding Revival of a Musical:” – and you will see DI YAM GAZLONIM among the list of nominees.
After getting the nomination I was invited to a reception at The Russian Tea Room where I was introduced to Kevin Spacey, Vanessa Redgrave, etc. Click here: http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=18541 and after the introductory text scroll down to the 31st picture and you’ll see me and Zalmen Mlotek, the artistic and executive director of Folksbiene, walking on the red carpet leading to The Russian Tea Room.
For Tommy Tune scroll down to the 34th photo.
Photo 36 for Michael Mayer and Martha Plimpton.
Photo 37 for Vanessa Redgrave.
Photos 64 - 66 for Kristin Chenoweth
Photo 71 for Kevin Spacey
Photo 74 for Audra McDonald
Last photo for Frank Langella
And take a peek at the dozens of others who you may recognize.
Finally – Here are over a dozen rave reviews that appeared as the Yiddish “Pirates” show ran last Fall and again in the Spring:
A detailed profile/preview by NY Times writer Lisa Schillinger (Oct. 22, 2006) followed by reviews of DI YAM GAZLONIM (Yiddish “Pirates of Penzance”) Oct. 29 through Nov. 12, 2006 and March 18 through April 1, 2007.
Lisa Schillinger – NY Times: http://www.jccmanhattan.org/category-print.aspx?catid=2193
Lawrence Van Gelder - NY Times: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/theater/reviews/08pira.html
Ward Morehouse III - "Breathtaking Yiddish Opera" - Broadway After Dark: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-3-4/52382.html
Lisa Ferber - nytheatre.com review - March 25, 2007: http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/pira4129.htm
William Wolf - Wolf Entertainment Guide - New York Calling: http://www.wolfentertainmentguide.com/pub/theater_friend.asp?id=3898&sender=Wolf&type=theaterquery
The Blueprint Review (Staff): http://www.nyblueprint.com/article.asp?aid=262
Michael Dale - Broadway World: http://broadwayworld.com/printcolumn.cfm?id=16914
Irene Backalenick - Jewish Theater: http://www.jewish-theatre.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=2126
Masha Leon - English Forward: http://www.forward.com/articles/remembering-the-ghetto/
Miriam Rinn - New Jersey Jewish Standard: http://www.jstandard.com/articles/2426/1/Yiddish-pirates
Alexander Gelfand - English Forward: http://www.forward.com/articles/lyrics-sparkle-in-yiddish-pirates-of-penzance/
Plot Description - NY Times: http://theater2.nytimes.com/gst/theater/tdetails.html?id=1154669594468
Gwen Orel - Backstage.com:
http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/nyc/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003559793
Irene Backalenick - New York/Connecticut Theater Scene: http://nytheaterscene.com/RevEThePiratesofPenzance.htm
NYChttp://cityguideny.com/listingsinfo.cfm?id=2355&table=Theater&lid=5&cat=2 Official City Guide:
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