National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Announces September and October Programming

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (Folksbiene)-led by Zalmen Mlotek, Artistic Director, and Dominick Balletta, Executive Director-will present original, dynamic virtual programming as part of its ongoing Folksbiene! LIVE series in September and October, starting with Magda Fishman's "A Sweet New Year" on September 16th, Budd Mishkin in conversation with Robert Klein on September 23rd, and Zalmen Mlotek's weekly Living Room Concerts on Thursdays.

Also on the horizon for October is Folksbiene! LIVE: "Welcome to Our Suke/Sukkah", a four-day festival of family-friendly performances during Chol Hamoed (the intermediary days of Sukkos) from October 5th to 8th. The presentations include Kids and Yiddish: The Reunion Special (October 5th); Tatiana Wechsler Concert (October 6th); Budd Mishkin's interview with the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics; and, Bisl Borscht: A Tribute to Mickey Katz, starring Ben Liebert (Motl from Folksbiene's Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish) (October 8th) with Special Guests.

"Sukkos is the Jewish festival celebrating the shelters in which our ancestors lived following the annual harvest as they journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem. During this holiday it is a mitzvah to extend hospitality to ushpizn (guests) and break bread together inside our shelters," said Motl Didner, Associate Artistic Director at National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. "This year, the virtual world has become our shelter as we are away from home at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. And we invite you to be our guest and share our cultural bounty with a festival within a festival of Yiddish performing arts."

Later that month, on October 28, Folksbiene will present "It Can't Happen Here," a dramatization of the 1935 novel by Sinclair Lewis imagining the rise of an American fascist dictator. In 1936, "It Can't Happen Here" was adapted for the stage by John C. Moffitt and presented simultaneously by 21 theater companies under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Theater Project. These productions included translations into Yiddish, Italian and Spanish.

The event will be presented in partnership with other theater companies, including New Heritage Theater Group (the oldest non-profit Black theater company in New York City), Kairos Italy Theater, and Turkish American Repertory Theater, among others, for a multi-lingual reading of this landmark play in order to bring attention to the need for greater support of our industry which has been impacted deeper than most industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched in March, Folksbiene! LIVE is an online celebration of Yiddish culture, featuring livestreamed theater, American Jewish performers, concerts, lectures, talks, and other events. Programming provides inspirational and entertaining experiences as cultural and arts venues across the country and world remain closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

All Folksbiene! LIVE programs are presented at 1:00 PM. Stay in the loop and get reminders about new episodes by subscribing to Folksbiene's newsletter, and catch up on past episodes on demand, at nytf.org/live. Kids and Yiddish: The Reunion Special and "It Can't Happen Here" are benefits for the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene through permission from Theatre Authority, Inc.

September Event Details Below:

Magda Fishman's "A Sweet New Year"

Wednesday, September 16th

Cantor Magda Fishman (B'nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton, Florida, and star of Folksbiene's Soul to Soul) ushers in the New Year 5781 with a concert of inspiring favorites in Yiddish, Hebrew and English.

Budd Mishkin in conversation with Robert Klein

Wednesday, September 23rd

This enlightening and engaging conversation, led by journalist Budd Mishkin, focuses on the life and career of Bronx-born actor, singer and comedy legend Robert Klein. The event is being presented between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Zalmen Mlotek's Living Room Concerts

Thursday, September 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th at 1:00 PM

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek's weekly Living Room Concerts features:

a-? Labor Day Concert - Songs of Work and Hope, on September 3rd

a-? Songs of Childhood, on September 10th

a-? Songs of Spirituality and the New Year, on September 17th

a-? Songs from The Golden Land, on September 24th

October Events Details Below:

Kids and Yiddish: The Reunion Special

Monday, October 5th

(Only available for viewing through October 9th at 1:00 PM Eastern Time)

The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents Kids and Yiddish: The Reunion Special. The beloved family show returns in an online production featuring original Off-Broadway cast members as well as new voices. This can be viewed only through October 9th at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

Tatiana Wechsler in Concert

Tuesday, October 6th

Tatiana Wechsler was featured in Folksbiene's The Golden Bride and starred as Curly in last year's radically reimagined Oklahoma! at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Budd Mishkin In Conversation with The Klezmatics

Wednesday, October 7th

Budd Mishkin interviews the Grammy Award Winning Klezmatics' Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg as part of Folksbiene's popular Conversation series. The presentation also will include musical moments.

Bisl Borscht: A Tribute to Mickey Katz

Thursday, October 8th

A concert featuring songs from the legendary Mickey Katz starring Ben Liebert (Motl Kamzoyl from Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish) with Special Guests.

It Can't Happen Here

Wednesday, October 28th (Only available for viewing through November 1st)

Folksbiene, in partnership with a number of other theater companies, including New Heritage Theater Group (the oldest non-profit Black theater company in New York City), Kairos Italy Theater, and Turkish American Repertory Theater, will present a multi-lingual reading of the landmark play "It Can't Happen Here" in order bring attention to the need for greater support of our industry which has been impacted deeper than most industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a dramatization of the 1935 novel by Sinclair Lewis imagining the rise of an American fascist dictator. In 1936, "It Can't Happen Here" was adapted for the stage by John C. Moffitt and presented simultaneously by 21 theater companies under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Theater Project. These productions included translations into Yiddish, Italian and Spanish. This special presentation will only be available for viewing through November 1st.

Zalmen Mlotek's Living Room Concerts

Thursday, October 15th, 22nd, and 29th at 1:00 PM

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek's weekly Living Room Concerts this month include the following (with more details to come on other events):

· Special Requests Part 3, on October 15th

· Early Yiddish Vaudeville Songs, on October 22nd

· History Revealed through Yiddish Songs, on October 29th

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