Yiddish Premiere of SOUL DOCTOR to Run 6/8-29 at Segal Centre

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts will present the World Yiddish premiere of Soul Doctor: Journey of a Rock Star Rabbi, the new bio-musical based on the life of the controversial father of popular Jewish music, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre presents the Yiddish version of the 2013 Broadway bio-musical written by Daniel S. Wise with lyrics by David Schechter from June 8 to June 29, 2014. Presented in Yiddish with English and French supertitles.

Soul Doctor recounts the fascinating life of the beloved, controversial father of popular Jewish music, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and his unexpected friendship with the high-priestess of soul, Nina Simone. Beginning with his childhood escape from Nazi Germany, the play follows Carlebach's remarkable journey as he becomes a rabbinical prodigy, discovers gospel and soul music through his friendship with Simone, then becomes famous as the "Rock Star Rabbi." Stardom, however, has a price and Carlebach must make peace with his family, faith and personal demons. Featuring over thirty of Shlomo's greatest hits, Soul Doctor is an exhilarating musical journey through the triumphs and tribulations of a cultural phenomenon.

Known as "The Singing Rabbi," Shlomo Carlebach became the charismatic voice of the Jewish religious revival movement in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, creating a revolutionary musical sound that saw him perform with the likes of Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. Combining folk, pop and soul sounds with traditional Jewish music and liturgy, the modern-day troubadour travelled the world preaching love, redemption, humanity and peace.

Written by Daniel S. Wise, with lyrics by David Shechter, Soul Doctor had its Broadway debut in the Summer of 2013 at New York's Circle in the Square Theater where it was hailed as "a joyous, leaping roar" and "an unabashedly celebratory show" by The New York Times. The uplifting score includes hits from Carlebach's forty-year career and several of Nina Simone's iconic tunes woven together by Steve Margoshes, orchestrator of The Who's Tommy and Elton John's Aida.

Artistic Director of New York's National Yiddish Theater - Folksbiene and Honorary Artistic Director of the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre Bryna Wasserman saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the inspiring story of Shlomo Carlebach to Montreal audiences in the Yiddish language:

"The music and journey of Rabbi Carlebach is one that will resonate strongly with our community. In bringing this new musical to the Segal Centre in Yiddish, we have the exciting opportunity to capture the spiritual essence of his songwriting," says Wasserman, who returns to Montreal to co-direct Soul Doctor with Rachelle Glait.

Rousing choreography and musical staging by Jim White, top notch musical direction by Nick Burgess, a company of over thirty community performers and a live band bring Carlebach's moving story and soul-stirring melodies to life.

Award-winning designer John C. Dinning creates the set design for this exciting new production, with lighting design by Luc Prairie, costume design by Louise Bourret and sound design by Peter Balov.

A proud contributor to Montreal's vibrant Jewish cultural renaissance, the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre continues to promote Yiddish language and culture, while presenting moving and entertaining stage productions accessible to all.

Considered by many to be one of the foremost Jewish religious songwriters of the 20th century, Shlomo Carlebach (1925-1994) was a religious teacher, composer and singer known as "The Singing Rabbi" during his lifetime. Born in Berlin in 1925, he fled from Nazi Germany to Switzerland with his family and immigrated to New York in 1939, when his father, descended from a great line of European rabbis, took over a small Upper West Side synagogue. Educated at Orthodox yeshivas in the 1950s, Carlebach came to reject his strict heritage and brought the Hasidic love of song to mainstream religious Jews. Upon his father's death in 1967, he took over what's now known as the Carlebach Shul, where he remained as the spiritual leader until his death in 1994. In a career that spanned over forty years, he composed thousands of songs and recorded over 25 albums that continue to have widespread popularity. Twenty years after his passing, Shlomo Carlebach's influence on contemporary Jewish culture retains its voice.

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