National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene's THE GOLDEN LAND Postpones Opening to Nov 8

The National Yiddish Theatre – Folksbiene is postponing the official press opening of "The Golden Land," until Thursday November 8 at 7:30pm, due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

The mostly English-language musical that was a groundbreaker when it premiered Off-Broadway in 1985 for incorporating Yiddish and English period music into its original score, began previews on Sunday October 28 at 2pm. It has since been forced to cancel all of its preview performances including tomorrow's Thursday shows, due to the continuing electrical problems in the area of the Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue. The show's five-week engagement is still scheduled to run through December 2.

Created by Zalmen Mlotek and Moishe Rosenfeld, and directed by Bryna Wasserman, The Golden Land" is performed in English and Yiddish. The show's cast of six, led by Bob Ader, Cooper Grodin, Stacey Harris, Andrew Keltz, Daniella Rabbani and Sandy Rosenberg, deftly weaves together Yiddish and English dialogue as if we are overhearing conversations on the street. The show's versatile klezmer band, led by Mlotek, who is responsible for the arrangements and music direction, contributes to this authentic soundscape of New York's Lower East Side from the 1880's to immediately before WW II.

"This is one production that doesn't need supertitles," Mlotek points out. "The languages mesh authentically, as they did for new immigrants. It's as if we are overhearing the pages of history come to life."

The show's design team includes Roger Hanna (sets), Brian Barnett (lighting), Natasha Landau (costumes), Bruce Ellman (sound), and Andrew Diaz (props). Choreography is by Deanna Dys.

Performances are at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (at 25th Street). For tickets, which are $55, call 866/811-4111, or visit www.nationalyiddishtheatre.org.

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