Museum of The City of New York Explores New York's Yiddish Theater: From the Bowery to Broadway
By: Michael Dale Mar. 17, 2016
If any of the Jewish refuges that left Anatevka in Broadway's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF happened to settle in New York's Lower East Side - and it's very likely that they did - they no doubt found entertainment and community in Manhattan's thriving Yiddish Theater.
From the late 19th to the mid- 20th century, Yiddish Theater entertained over 1.5 million first and second generation Eastern-European Jewish immigrants. Second Avenue became the "Yiddish Broadway," where audiences of new New Yorkers celebrated their culture and learned about urban life in the city via cutting-edge dramas, musical comedies, and avant-garde political theater.
A photo posted by Museum of the City of New York (@museumofcityny) on Mar 9, 2016 at 8:09am PST
From now until July 31st, 2016, The Museum of the City of New York presents "New York's Yiddish Theater: From the Bowery to Broadway," an immersive exhibition displaying the most comprehensive exploration of Yiddish Theater to date, featuring over 250 artifacts drawn from the Museum of the City of New York's vast collection and from the archives of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, and the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
"New York's Yiddish Theater was a beloved institution that helped shape performance art in America as we know it," says Whitney Donhauser, Director and President of the Museum of the City of New York.
"The story of how a thriving immigrant community's local entertainment source blossomed into such an influential and widespread phenomenon is an inspiring example of New York City's unmatched ability to incubate and celebrate creativity. We look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing the exciting story of New York's Yiddish Theater - from its beginnings on the Bowery to its influence on Broadway, and finally now, on our walls in East Harlem."
"Given its early establishment into the lives of New Yorkers in the late 19th century, the impact Yiddish Theater left...
Posted by Museum of the City of New York on Monday, March 14, 2016
Theatrical treasures on display will include Molly Picon's costumes from her performances in CIRCUS GIRL, YANKELE and MOZEL TOV MOLLY, Mae Simon's jewelry and makeup box, Zero Mostel's Tevye costume from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, along with set models and costume designs for the original production by Boris Aronson.
The show will also include "spotlight" sections, focusing on specific stars and playwrights like Boris Thomashefsky, Jacob Gordin, Molly Picon, and the Adler Family Dynasty, which still exists today.
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