National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene has unveiled its 109th season, which will feature the world premiere of a new musical, Amid Falling Walls (Tsvishn Falndike Vent). Using Yiddish songs and material performed in ghettos, cabarets, and more, the work explores Jewish perseverance during the Holocaust. A run is set for November 14-December 10 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Using Holocaust survivors' firsthand testimonies transformed into poetry and music, Amid Falling Walls seeks to capture stories of resistance and hope. The new musical is curated and arranged by Zalmen Mlotek with a libretto by Avram Mlotek. Motl Didner will direct.
The season's programming also includes the June 14 free concert New York Sings Yiddish! as part of Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage; the theatre company's June 19 Summer Soirée with Julie Benko (Funny Girl), Sophie Knapp (Once), and more; Kids & Yiddish: The Mishegas Continues beginning in December; and Hannah Senesh: Youth Edition in 2024.
NYTF's production of Harmony: A New Musical from Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman will make its Broadway debut this fall in the Barrymore Theater. Previews will begin October 18 ahead of a November 13 opening night. Set in 1920s Germany, Harmony is based on the real story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six male singers who gained popularity for this harmonies and stage antics. Their trajectory was forever changed once they included Jewish singers and ended up crashing head-on with history.
“Core to our mission is the promotion of the great literary, dramatic and musical traditions of the Yiddish theatre, and showcasing opportunities to tell important Jewish stories, in other languages,” said Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek and Executive Director Dominick Balletta.
Visit NYTF.org.
