In January, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene drew back the curtain on the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” co-presented with New York City Opera. Directed by Michael Capasso, and with a libretto by Michael Korie, the limited engagement ran for eight shows — most of which sold out, even despite the winter weather — at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in lower Manhattan.
“The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” is based on Giorgio Bassani’s 1962 novel of the same name. Set on the eve of World War II, it tells the story of an aristocratic Italian-Jewish family, the Finzi-Continis, who believes it will be immune to the changes happening around it. As it makes a gracious haven for itself in the garden, walling out the unpleasantness of the world outside, Italy forms its alliance with Germany and begins to enforce anti-Semitic racial laws. But the Finzi-Continis discover too late that no one is immune or untouchable.
“The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” not only continues New York City Opera’s mission to produce new and important works by American composers, but continues the opera company’s tradition of “showcasing outstanding talent,” Capasso said. “I am very excited about our cast, which includes many young and emerging artists in leading roles alongside established NYCO stalwarts.”
Rachel Blaustein (Micól Finzi-Contini), Brian James Myer (Alberto Finzi-Contini), Mary Phillips (Mama), Franco Pomponi (Papà), Anthony Ciaramitaro (Giorgio) and Matt Ciuffitelli (Malnate) led the cast, which featured production design by John Farrell, costume design by Ildikó Debreczeni, lighting design by Susan Roth and production stage management by Diana Vassall-DuMelle.
The cast also included D’Marreon Alexander, Robert Balonek, Adam Cioffari, Peter Kendall Clark, Dani Goldstein, Spencer Hamlin, Kristee Haney, Rebecca Hargrove, Sarah Heltzel, Adam Klein, Meredith Krinke, Melanie Long, Violet Paris, Gabe Ponichter, Sami Sallaway, Drew Seigla, Markos Simopoulos, Rosy Anoush Svazlian, Tim Roller and Rachel Zatcoff.
“We are proud to co-produce the world premiere of ‘The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,’” said National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek. “This important new work illuminates an important part of Italian-Jewish history, and sadly, its themes of discrimination and anti-semitism still resonate in our world today.”
National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene is the longest consecutively producing theatre in the U.S. and the world’s oldest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company and is now celebrating its 107th season. In recent years, the renowned Folksbiene presented the award-winning “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish, which was directed by Joel Grey and drew sold out audiences before it moved to Off-Broadway uptown.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek and Executive Director Dominick Balletta, Folksbiene is dedicated to creating a living legacy through the arts, connecting generations and bridging communities. And this spring will be no exception as Folksbiene prepares to open another major production.
In April, Folksbiene will present the New York debut of “Harmony: A New Musical,” which tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six talented young men in 1920s Germany who took the world by storm with their signature blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics, until their inclusion of Jewish singers put them on a collision course with history.
“Harmony,” by Barry Manilow and his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman, will open in the Museum’s Edmond J. Safra Hall on April 13 (with previews beginning on March 23).
Directing and choreographing “Harmony” will be Tony Award winner and Emmy-nominated Warren Carlyle, who most recently choreographed the current Broadway revival of “The Music Man” starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Among the stellar cast are musical theatre icons Chip Zien and Sierra Boggess as the elder Rabbi and Mary. Zien most recently was seen as the bombastic Mr. Stopnick in The Roundabout’s acclaimed production of “Caroline, or Change.” He created the central role of the Baker in Sondheim/Lapine’s award-winning “Into The Woods” (L.A. Drama-Logue Award, Outer Critics nomination) and created the role of Mendel in William Finn’s highly decorated “Falsettos.”
Sierra Boggess has been seen on Broadway in the Tony-nominated musical “School Of Rock,” “It Shoulda Been You” directed by David Hyde Pierce, two separate engagements of the Broadway production of “The Phantom of the Opera” (the first for the show’s 25th anniversary and the second opposite Norm Lewis), the revival of “Master Class” (opposite Tyne Daly) and “The Little Mermaid” (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations, Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards).
Reflecting on the 2022 season, Mlotek said, “The core of NYTF’s mission will always be the promotion of the great literary, dramatic and musical traditions of the Yiddish theater. We will venture beyond Yiddish when presented with opportunities to tell important Jewish stories, in other languages, particularly when these stories otherwise would not be told.”
Amid the pandemic, Folksbiene also produced a number of virtual specials, continuing to engage audiences online and reaching an international audience as well. Among its most popular, ongoing features have been “15 Minute Yiddish Lessons” and “A Yiddish Renaissance.” Virtual programming can be accessed on-demand online at nytf.org.
