Video: Broadway's Harmony Celebrates the Start of Rosh Hashanah

The cast and creative team of the new Broadway musical Harmony celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New Year, September 14. Joining them outside the Barrymore Theatre was Rabbi Jill Hausman from The Actors' Temple, who welcomed the crowd and gave the first blessing.

Traditional treats like apples and honey were offered to attendees at the celebration, including rugelach from Junior's Times Square. Zal Owen, who plays Harry—one of the Harmonists in the show—also gave a few words and a final blessing before playwright and lyricist Bruce Sussman invited attendees into the theatre for an inside look at the show's load-in of sets and lights. As the event came to a close, producer Ken Davenport thanked everyone in attendance for coming to celebrate with them at the show's new home.

The new and original musical Harmony is based on the true story of The Comedian Harmonists—an internationally famous ensemble of six young men from Berlin whose heavenly harmonies and musical comedy antics sold them millions of records, made dozens of films, and sold-out the biggest theatres around the world in the 1920s and 30s. The show features a score by Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner Barry Manilow, with lyrics and book written by Drama Desk Award winner Sussman, as well as direction and choreography by Warren Carlyle.

*Harmony* celebrating Rosh Hashanah Paul Aphisit

The show stars Chip Zien; Sierra Boggess; Julie Benko; the Comedian Harmonists Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, and Steven Telsey; Allison Semmes and Andrew O’Shanick. They join Zak Edwards, Dan Hoy, Bruce Landry, RhonniRose Mantilla, Daniel Z. Miller, Benjamin H. Moore, Matthew Mucha, Constantine Pappas, Kayleen Seidl, Kyla Stone, Bronwyn Tarboton, Kate Wesler, Stuart Zagnit, and Lee Zarrett.

The creative team includes scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designers Linda Cho and Ricky Lurie, lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound designer Dan Moses Schreier, wig and hair designer Tom Watson, music director John O'Neill, music coordinator Michael Aarons, and production stage manager Scott Taylor Rollison. Media design is by batwin and robin productions. Orchestrations are by Doug Walter, and casting is by Jamibeth Margolis.

Harmony will begin welcoming theatre patrons to its new home for previews October 18, before the show's official opening night November 13. Visit HarmonyANewMusical.com.