The New Season

A roundup of new Broadway and Off-Broadway shows with Jewish connections.

ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER

Special to the Jewish News

Previews begin Oct. 7; opens Oct.
31, at the Cort Theatre, 138 West
48th St. (212) 239-6200.

or more than 100 years,
the New York stage has
been a mecca for Jewish
. artists of all types. This
season is no exception.
Hairspray leads the list of new shows
with Jewish connections, but it's cer-
tainly not alone. Here's a look at a sam-
pling of other New York openings that
feature Jewish actors, songwriters, direc-
tors or themes.

LA BOHEME
Baz Luhrmann, of Moulin Rouge
fame, directs a new production of
Puccini's famous opera. One of the
show's producers is Oak Park native
and University of Michigan grad
Jeffrey Seller (Rent).
Unlike the original, which is set in
Bohemian Paris, this version is trans--
planted to the United States, circa

DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES
Based on Roman Polanski's film The
Fearless Vampire Killers, this new musical
features music and lyrics by rock's Jim
Steinman, songwriter for Meat Loaf
Set in Transylvania, it stars Phantom
of the Opera's Michael Crawford as a
19th-century vampire whose passion is
to win the soul and body of a beauti-
ful 18-year-old virgin.
His un-deadly intentions are upset
with the arrival of the vampire killer
Professor Abronsius.
Previews begin Oct. 14; opens Nov.
21, at the Minskoff Theatre, 200 West
45th St. (212) 307-4100.

HOLLYWOOD ARMS
Written by comedian/actress Carol
Burnett and her late daughter, Carrie
Hamilton, Hollywood Arms is based on
Burnett's memoir One More Time.
It's a moving story of three genera-
tions of women, including a girl
whose only escape is the roof of a run-
down apartment building at the foot
of the Hollywood Hills. The show
stars Linda Lavin (TV's Alice) and is
directed by Hal Prince.

a..

.

Top to bottom:

Frank Gorshin as
George Burns in
"Say Goodnight
Gracie."

Elizabeth Parkinson
and Keith Roberts
in Wovin' Out"

Stephen Mo Hanan
in "Jolson 6- Company."

1957. The music and words will
remain true to the original opera.
The story of the doomed love affair
between Mimi, a seamstress, and
Rodolfo, a writer, will be sung in
Italian with English surtitles.
Previews begin Nov. 26; opens Dec. 8,
at the Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway
at 53rd Street. (212) 239-6200.

MOVIN' OUT
This musical, based on 24 of Billy
Joel's classic songs, is the story of a
group of lifelong friends, and how the
world changes around them from the
1960s to the 1980s.
Conceived, choreographed and direct-
NEW SEASON on page 83

Pho to by Caro l Rosegg •

AMOUR
A new musical with an original
score by Michael Legrand (Umbrellas
of Cherbourg), Amour is set in Paris in
the 1950s.
It's about a civil servant, who finds his
life transformed by a magical ability to
walk through walls. This discovery pro-
vides a new outlook on life, which leads
to romance with a beautiful woman.
The sound designer is former
Detroiter Dan Schreier.
Previews begin Sept. 20; opens Oct.
20, at the Music Box Theatre, 239
West 45th St. (212) 239-6200.

DUDU FISHER: SOMETHING
OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Appearing Off-Broadway, this
renowned singer and cantor will
offer traditional Jewish standards
and Broadway favorites reflecting
on his life as an Israeli entertainer.
Fisher has become an acclaimed
singer known for his unique inter-
pretations of Chasidic and Yiddish
standards.
Runs Oct. 15-Dec. 8, at the
Mazer Theatre, 197 East Broadway.
(212) 239-6200.

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Photo by An drew Eccles

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Limited Runs

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JACKIE MASON :
PRUNE DANISH
The comedian's sixth one-man
show on the Broadway stage fea-
tures two acts of Mason's new
material — about tobacco compa-
nies, Enron, Osama bin Laden,
the Taliban and airport security.
Previews begin. Oct. 8; runs
Oct. 23-Dec. 1, at the Royal
Theater, 243 West 45th St. (212)
239-6200.

TAKE ME OUT
Written by Richard Greenberg
(The Dazzle), this limited-run play
is about a young, talented and
popular baseball star who "comes
out" as gay.
The story chronicles the effects
of his actions as the news spreads
through the team and the media.
Runs Sept. 5-29, at the Public
Theater, 425 Lafayette St. (212)
239-6200.

THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE
A revival of the Rodgers and
Hart musical, The Boys from
Syracuse is based on Shakespeare's
The Comedy of Errors.
Set in ancient Rome, it tells the
story of two sets of identical twins
and the women who can't tell
them apart. Among its classic
songs are "Falling in Love with
Love" and "This Can't Be Love."
Runs through Oct. 20, at the
AmeriCan Airlines Theatre, 227
West 42nd St. (212) 719-1300. ❑

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