Actors

In many respects the Yiddish theatre belonged to its actors. From the early days of the professional Yiddish stage, the most popular actors were treated like gods, and theatre troupes brought more than one playwright to heel. While Yiddish performers often had a reputation for emotive performances, the best of them were considered the equals of their most esteemed colleagues performing in other languages.


June 24, 2021

A Year of Yiddish Theatre in Covid: A Wrap Up?

In the past year, we’ve covered a number of COVID-era online productions, from drag, to Yiddish-inspired new plays, to a re-mounted classic, to long-ignored material and more long-ignored material.
June 21, 2021

The Bird of COVID

Chava Rosenfarb’s Der foygl fun geto (The Bird of the Ghetto) had its Yiddish-language premiere April 18 to 22, on the Folksbiene’s video channel.
June 8, 2021

The Menashe Skulnik Story in the Forward

Menashe Skulnik (1892-1970) was one of the great comic actors of the Yiddish theatre, remembered for his trademark porkpie hat and beloved for his schlemiel-like stage persona.
May 24, 2021

Menashe Skulnik Becomes a Star in Buenos Aires

Menashe Skulnik (1892-1970) was one of the great comic actors of the Yiddish theatre, remembered for his trademark porkpie hat and beloved for his schlemiel-like stage persona.
April 12, 2021

Why Wikidata is Good for Yiddish Theatre Research

Part two of two on how the digital humanities can inspire the world of Yiddish theatre.
March 15, 2021

Wikidata, Yiddish Theatre Posters, and the World

Der dibek, 1975, Israeli Yiddish entertainment posters, 1930-1981, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University.