Love is a battlefield. From Jerome Avenue to Jerusalem, two brothers with big dreams for the
stage and the beloved girl upstairs confront their own personal conflicts in The Seed of Abraham, a new musical coming to The New York International Fringe Festival this August.
Written by playwright Bob Zaslow with music and lyrics by Kenny Karen, The Seed of Abraham takes its audience back to the year 1967. In Israel, guns blaze, bombs fall, and a young nation fights for its life during the Six Day War. In the Bronx, three young people fight for their dreams. Benjamin (Barry DeBois), a promising singer, Abie (Caleb Teicher), a talented dancer, and Leah (Joey Ama Dio), a budding journalist, defy their parents' wishes and now find themselves on the brink of success. But when war breaks out in the Holy Land, loyalties are tested, and their fates hang in the balance forcing them to decide: do they answer to themselves, to their families -- or to God?
As they sing the opening song, "The Old Bronx Cheer," the lights and movement telegraph something unmistakable - this is going to be one old-fashioned, Broadway-type show. Using front screen projection for backgrounds, audiences will get the feeling for locations like Morris Avenue, the
92nd Street Y, a synagogue and the city of Jerusalem.
"I originally decided to write this show because I wanted to find a way to share Kenny Karen's beautiful songs with a larger audience," says Zaslow, who added, "I heard his CD, Choir Boy, and listened to it over and over again. Eventually, a vague story formulated out of the air, with about six or so songs from the CD as the core of the story. Then, as the story grew and took on a life of its own, I asked Kenny to write some original songs where I thought dialogue couldn't do the job as well as a song could." Karen hopped on board. "Bob's genuine enthusiasm was the catalyst for our joining forces," says Karen. "The song ‘Jerusalem Is Mine' was my initial foray into contemporary Judaic song writing. Although it has been sung by many recording and concert artists over the years, my son Caleb offers his interpretation as Abie in the show. It's as if the baton has been passed to a new generation. I'm very proud."
In addition to DeBois, Ama Dio and Teicher (who is also the show's Choreographer), Sally Burtenshaw (Director) leads a talented cast that includes
Denise DeMirjian* (Miriam), Walt Frasier (Mailman/Nightclub Owner/Speaker), Jonathan Kline* (Morrie),
John Anthony Lopez (Joshua), Ricky Alan Saunders (Chorus, U/S to Benjamin and Abie) and Amy
Beth Williams* (Frieda).
The production team includes
Shelby Taylor Love* (Stage Manager), Laura Bremen (Lighting Designer),
Phillip Rudy (Sound Designer), Catherine Siracusa (Costume Designer), Carolyn Emery (ACR),
Lisa Marie Maher (ASM) and Ben Houghton (Assistant Musical Director). Executive Producer for The Seed of Abraham is Marni LaRose.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Sunday, August 14th @ 2:30PM
Wednesday, August 17th @ 2:30PM
Friday, August 19th @ 9PM
Tuesday, August 23rd @ 6:15PM
Thursday, August 25th @ 8:45PM
All performances are at The Bleecker Street Theatre, 45 Bleecker Street in New York City. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at door and $10 for senior adults (65+) and groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-468-7619
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