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.
November 27, 2018
But Enough About Strindberg; Let’s Talk About Goldenberg!
Oh, to have witnessed such a scene!
August 30, 2018
Avrom Fishzon, or the Berdichev Sheherazad
The DYTP’s first long form blog post: a reflection on the actor and impresario Avrom Fishzon (1843?–1922).
July 26, 2018
A Yiddish Homecoming for Fiddler on the Roof
Fifteen years ago, I played violin in the pit orchestra for a high school production of Fiddler on the Roof in Sheldon, Iowa, a town whose five thousand residents were overwhelmingly white, Christian, and politically conservative. As the only Jew in at least a fifty-mile radius, I wondered how the show would resonate with the audience, most of whom […]
July 5, 2018
Zylbercweig’s Leksikon and Selfridges’ Rump Steak: In Memoriam Harry Ariel
In this tale of Łódź and London, David Mazower remembers the Yiddish actor Harry Ariel and a life-changing association with theatre historian Zalmen Zylbercweig.
June 6, 2018
When Sholem Asch Met Tarantino: Motke ganev Comes to Tel Aviv
The play’s melodramatic plot was fleshed out with attractive costumes, a dynamic set design, and songs by Leonard Cohen, performed cabaret-style by a female singer.
April 11, 2018
Rosa Rapoport and Teatro IFT in Buenos Aires
In this excerpt from Rosa’s oral history, she shares her memories performing on stage at Teatro IFT, and the theatre’s eventual transition from Yiddish to a Spanish-language repertoire.