National Yiddish Theatre Presents FYVUSH FINKEL LIVE, 10/17-11/7

Its 96^th consecutive seaon will be like no other, as the Drama Desk Award-winning National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene presents two new plays in the fall that demonstrate the broad scope and appeal of its programming.  In "Fyvush Finkel Live!" -- the world premiere of a musical revue starring the legendary Fyvush Finkel -- Folksbiene shows off its talent to produce good, old-fashioned entertainment that delights audiences of any age.  In "New Worlds: A Celebration of I.L. Peretz" -- starring the noted French performance artist Rafael Goldwaser -- Folksbiene nurtures new artists to add modern works to the Yiddish theatre's rich legacy.  Both shows are presented at The Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexigton Avenue (at 25^th Street).

"Fyvush Finkel Live!" October 17 to November 7

 For three weeks only (23 performances), from October 17 to November 7, it's the rarest of all rare treats, as the Emmy Award-winning Fyvush Finkel offers a first-hand account of an incredible career spanning English and Yiddish roles, from Second Avenue to modern-day television stardom. A musical celebration of a life on stage, "Fyvush Finkel Live!" stars Fyvush Finkel and his sons Ian Finkel & Elliot Finkel.  The guest stars are Merwin Goldsmith & June Gable.  Directed by Motl Didner with choreography by Shorey Walker.  In Yiddish and English.

Filled with songs, stories, jokes and ample evidence of Finkel's undiminished mastery of showbusiness razzle dazzle, "Fyvush Finkel Live!" brings us this close to one of the last living links to the Yiddish theatre's rich heyday on Second Avenue.  But it also introduces us to one of a very select group of actors who are active and successful in both the Yiddish and mainstream worlds.  Very few indeed have straddled the traditions of Second Avenue and mainstream entertainment as convincingly as Finkel.

Born in Brooklyn Finkel began his career in the Yiddish theatre as a teenager.  After a long stint touring in "Fiddler on the Roof," directed by Jerome Robbins, he starred in the Off-Broadway hit "Little Shop of Horrors" for five years, earned an OBIE in "Café Crown" (which moved to Broadway), and teamed up with his sons Ian and Elliot, and grandson Abbot in two musical revues -- "Finkel's Follies" and "From Second Avenue to Broadway." A beloved television star, Finkel earned an Emmy Award in 1994 for Picket Fences and he starred in the acclaimed series Boston Public, which ran from 2000 to 2004.  His most recent appearance Off-Broadway was in "New Jerasulem" by David Ives three seasons ago.

 "New Worlds: A Celebration of I.L. Peretz" - November 11 to November 21

 From November 11 to 21 (12 performances only!), Folksbiene welcomes France's Rafael Goldwaser (artistic director of Strasbourg's Théatre en L'Air) one of the most daring and innovative performers on the world stage today.  A torchbearer for Yiddish culture, as well as a true visionary of the theatre, Goldwaser stars in the larger of two companion one-acts based on the work of Yiddish master I.L. Peretz.

 Conceived and performed by Goldwaser, "The Metamorphosis of a Melody" (A Gigl Fun a Nigun) is a virtuosic solo multi-media performance. Directed by Pascal Holtzer, with an original score by Jean-Raymond Gelis, "A Gilgl" traces the strange and beautiful migration and evolution of a nigun melody through the ages.  The production was seen this summer in the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival.

The curtain raiser "The Two Brothers" (Di Tsvey Brider), conceived and directed by Motl Didner, with choreography by Rebecca Warner, receives its world premiere in this production. Featuring an original score by Dmitri "Zisl" Slepovitch, "The Two Brothers" reinvigorates a classic folk tale about greed and exploitation with a timely energy derived from the inventive mixing of video, audio and performance elements.  The plays are in Yiddish, with English and Russian supertitles.

Born in Argentina, where his father was a busy Yiddish actor, Goldwaser combines the traditions of French mime, Yiddish folk literature, new media, and a refined ear for the music and melodies of Yiddish theatre dating back to Goldfaden.  Before moving to France in 1990, Goldwaser lived for 25 years in Israel, where he performed and traveled extensively, and where he was a member of the Habimah Theatre.  At his Le Théatre en l'Air, he has been developing a modern Yiddish style of acting that resonates with the past while pointing us to a new epoch.

"Fyvush Finkel Live!" starring Fyvush Finkel, and "New Worlds: A Celebration of I.L. Peretz" starring Rafael Goldwaser, run consecutively from October 17 to November 21 at The Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue. "Fyvush Finkel Live!" runs from October 17 to November 7 with performances on Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm, Thursday at 2pm & 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm & 6pm. "New Worlds: A Celebration of I.L. Peretz" runs from November 11 to November 21 with performances on Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm, Thursday at 2pm & 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm & 6pm. For tickets, which are $55 for each show, call The Baruch Performing Arts Center box office, 55 Lexington Avenue (25^th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues) at 646/312-5073, or visit www.folksbiene.org