National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene Announces 99th Season

Theater

Avi Hoffman's Still Jewish After All These Years
Conceived, written, and performed by Avi Hoffman
Music Direction by Michael Larsen
Produced in Association with National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene
Now through October 23 at Stage 72/Triad, 158 West 72nd Street

In Still Jewish After All These Years, Avi Hoffman invites audiences along on an intimate and hilarious tour through his exhilarating career, sharing engaging songs and stories of an extraordinary life in show business. Avi Hoffman has entertained millions of people with his humor, his pathos and his passionate singing voice. His extensive resume includes his ground-breaking productions Of Songs Of Paradise with the famous Broadway Impresario Joe Papp and the New York productions of The Golden Land and The Rise of David Levinsky. He is currently appearing on the Starz television series Magic City, as lawyer Sid Raskin, and has been featured on NBC'sLaw & Order and A&E's The Glades.

Covers
Written by Ruvym Gilman & Boris Zilberman
Conceived and produced by Anna Zicer
Directed by Alexandre Marine
October 1 - 13 at ArcLight Theatre, 152 West 71st Street

Returning to the stage following its sold-out Spring workshop, Covers is an engaging psychological work of theater which paints a revealing portrait of a family and the difficult choices made that have defined their pasts and are destined to influence their futures. Audiences will be amused, gripped and moved as Covers transports between decades of lost memories and disclosed experiences.

Lies My Father Told Me
Based on the works of Ted Allan
Music, Lyrics, and Orchestrations by Elan Kunin
Directed and adapted by Bryna Wasserman
Music Direction by Zalmen Mlotek
Choreography by Merete Muenter
Previews begin November 10; opens November 21 for a run through December 15 at
Baruch Performing Arts Center's Nagelberg Theater, 55 Lexington Avenue
A National Premiere, professionally workshopped at Canada's Segal Centre in 2011

Lies My Father Told Me is a new coming-of-age musical based on the 1975 Academy-Award-nominated, Golden-Globe-winning film. Following three generations in an immigrant family living in Montreal during the 1920s, when North American Immigration pushed forward in its final great wave and an assimilated country pushed back even harder, Lies My Father Told Me recounts protagonist David's childhood memories of the people and occurrences that would shape his life. A National Premiere which, in 2011, garnered a critically-acclaimed run at Canada's Award-winning Segal Centre.

The Megile of Itzik Manger
Book by Shmuel Bunim, Haim Hefer, Itzik Manger, Dov Seltzer
Music and Lyrics by Dov Seltzer
Directed by Motl Didner
Music Direction by Zalmen Mlotek
Choreography by Merete Muenter
Starring Stephen Mo Hanan and Avi Hoffman
With Jonathan Brody, Stacey Harris, Andrew Keltz, Rebecca Keren, Jeremy Rishe, Hannah D. Scott
March 2 - 16 at Baruch Performing Arts Center's Nagelberg Theater, 55 Lexington Avenue
In English and Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles.

Back by popular demand, the return of Folksbiene's critically-acclaimed Purim Shpiel circus musical The Megile Of Itzik Manger, a "thrillingly alive" (NY Post) production that's bound to "sweep you off your feet" (Jewish Week). Set in a mystical world of fantasy and delight, The Megile Of Itzik Manger spins a re-imagined twist on the familiar tale of The Book of Esther filled with acrobatic thrills, magic, larger-than-life puppets, action, and dance, set under the big top. The Megile Of Itzik Manger Stars Tony nominee Stephen Mo Hanan and Outer Critic's Circle nominee Avi Hoffman.

Reflections Of A Lost Poet
Written by Miriam Hoffman
Music Direction and arrangements by Binyumen Schaechter
Starring Avi Hoffman
March 10 at Baruch Performing Arts Center's Engelman Recital Hall, 55 Lexington Avenue

This FREE funny and moving solo performance follows the life and times of Itzik Manger. Through his songs and poems, we discover the joy and anguish of one of the greatest Yiddish poets who lived through the best and worst of times.

A PRESENTATION OF 2 ONE ACT PURIM SHPIELS:

Yakhme Soshe
Based on a short story by Herbert Herschel Tuchman
Adapted by Miriam Hoffman
March 11 at Baruch Performing Arts Center's Nagelberg Theater, 55 Lexington Avenue
In Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles

A couple from a small Polish shtetl (town) experience hilarious culture shock when they get a taste of highbrow Vienna society.

A Gilbert and Sullivan Purim Shpiel
Conceived by Chana Mlotek.
Plays March 11 at Baruch Performing Arts Center's Nagelberg Theater, 55 Lexington Avenue
In English and Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles.

A Yiddish parody of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic Victorian operettas.

STAGED READINGS IN SPRING 2014:

Der Nes In Geto (A Miracle In The Warsaw Ghetto)
Written by H. Leivick
Date, time, and location TBA

Authored in 1944, just one year after the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, this epic drama tells the story of the bravery of one family and their neighbors who fought against overwhelming odds to declare to the world "we are here!" Presented in partnership with The National Yiddish Book Center

Di Goldene Kale (The Golden Bride)
Music and Libretto by Joseph Rumshinsky
Restored by Michael Ochs
Dates, time, and location TBA

Music from this delightful 1923 operetta will be heard for the first time in New York in over 65 years.

Concerts

Notes From The Underground
Conceived and musically directed by Zalmen Mlotek
Featuring members of the electrifying Klezmer group Golem, Phyllis Berk, and Elmore James

October 1 at Lehman College's Lovenger Theater, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West;
October 23 at Queens College's Lefrak Recital Hall, 65-30 Kissena Blvd;
October 24 at Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Ave;
October 30 at Brooklyn College's Whitman Theater, 345 Boyer Avenue

In Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles

A FREE riveting concert series featuring the "Farbotene Lider" (Forbidden Songs) which were clandestinely shared from Jewish family to Jewish family behind the iron curtain. This program is generously supported by CUNY.

Miracle of Miracles: A Chanukah Extravaganza Celebrating Theodore Bikel's 90 Birthday
Conceived and musically directed by Zalmen Mlotek
Produced by Moishe Rosenfeld
Featuring Joanne Borts, Magda Fishman, Elmore James, Frank London, Avram Pengas, Avi Fox-Rosen, Rachel Yucht

One-Night-Only December 2 at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway
In English and Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles.

Honoring the legendary Theodore Bikel, the evening will celebrate the festival of lights with the brightest stars of the Yiddish music and theater worlds. Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek will lead his amazing young ensemble in a spellbinding songfest and the best Chanukah party in town.

Ghetto Tango
Conceived by Adrienne Cooper z'l and Zalmen Mlotek
Music Direction by Zalmen Mlotek
Featuring Daniella Rabbani, and Avram Mlotek
May 4 at The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A living Memorial to the Holocaust, (need address)
In English and Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles.

A moving and inspirational concert, Ghetto Tango highlights real songs and music performed in the underground cabarets, which existed in the Jewish ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe. Presented in partnership with The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A living Memorial to the Holocaust.

Tickets can be purchased at (646) 312-5073 or www.nationalyiddishtheatre.org.