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Wonderful Town: Based on the book
My Sister Eileen (later made into a movie
and TV series), this musical first opened
on Broadway in 1953.
A tribute to New York City, the musi-
cal's lively score is by Leonard Bernstein,
with lyrics by Betty Comden and
Adolph Green. Set in the 1920s, it tells
the story of two sisters from Ohio —
one is smart, the other is pretty — and
how they move to New York to search
for jobs and make it big.
The ensemble cast includes Gregg
Edelman. Previews began Nov. 5; the
show is scheduled to open Nov. 23.
At the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302
West 45th St., (212) 239-6300.

D

avid Friedman may
not be a household
name, but his heart-
felt songs are familiar to
millions of people.
For the past few decades,
David Friedman: feel my writing is very
many of his tunes, including Jewish — it in my bones and in my history"
"We Live on Borrowed
Time" and "I'll Be Here
Jewish audience, I feel completely
With You," have been sung and
at home."
recorded by the likes of Barry
Born and raised in New York,
Manilow, Laura Branigan and good
Friedman
developed an interest in
friend Kathie Lee Gifford.
music
at
a
young age. He began
Now, after conducting, musical
directing, vocal arranging and scor- taking guitar lessons at age 5 and
piano lessons at 11.
ing films, he has put together the
After graduating from the New
wonderful Off-Broadway review
England
Conservatory of Music in
Listen To My Heart, which,
Boston,
he
took a job at a camp
Friedman says, is "a lifelong dream
and
wrote
a
children's play. A
come true."
Theater
company
in New York
Friedman is at the piano, and
wound
up
producing
his show, and
five Broadway veterans sing his
that exposure opened up doors.
songs, filled with humor, inspira-
He played piano for the long-
tion and love.
running
musical The Fantasticks
Not only does his work reflect his
and
began
conducting Broadway
personal life, it can be linked to his
shows,
including
Grease. That led
Jewish identity.
to
Disney
movies;
Friedman was
"I feel my writing is very Jewish
the
conductor
and
vocal arranger
— it's in my bones and in my his-
on the Disney classics Beauty and
tory," says Friedman, who grew up
the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and
in a kosher home and celebrated
The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He
his bar mitzvah.
also
wrote the lyrics and music for
"The song 'If You Love Me,
Aladdin
and the King Of Thieves.
Please Don't Feed Me,' which men-
Shifting
his career to a differknIt
tions eating kishka, reflects my
direction,
Friedman
decided to
Jewish background. Typical in a
concentrate
on
his
songwriting.
Jewish home, my mother would
"I was conducting Alan Menken's
complain about my father's weight
movies and doing the vocal
and then offer him food."
arrangements. But I made a deci-
Friedman admits he can tell
sion to leave anything that wasn't
when he is performing to a Jewish
my own writing," he says. "Maybe
audience.
I am not as famous as I could be,
"We can always tell how many
but
you know a David Friedman
Jewish people are in the audience
song when you hear it." Li
by how many laughs (kishka'
gets," he says. "When we have a

OFF-BROAD WAY

A Stoop on Orchard Street: Presented
by the Lower East Side Tenement
Museum and Orchard Street
Productions, this musical re-creates the
colorful life of the old Jewish neigh-
borhood on New York City's Lower
East Side.
Set in 1910, it follows the life of
the Lomansky family as they adjust to
American life after emigrating from
Europe. The mother is a seamstress,
while the father gets caught up with
the wrong people, landing himself in
jail. Twenty-three actors are featured
in the ensemble cast.
Jay Kholos, known for work on TV
classics the Dick Van Dyke Show and
the Jack Benny Show, is the musical's
producer, composer and writer.
At the Mazer Theater, 197 East
Broadway, on New York's Lower East
Side, (212) 239-6200.

Caroline, Or Change: Set in Louisiana
in 1963 during the civil rights move-
ment, this musical takes place at a time
of burgeoning social change.
A black maid, Caroline, has bonded
with Noah Gellman, the son of the
Southern Jewish family she works for.
Noah's mother has recently died, and he
lives with his father and stepmother.
Noah tends to leave change in his
pocket, and his stepmother asks
Caroline to take the change to break
him of the habit. But when Noah gets
money for Chanukah and leaves it in
his pocket, Caroline struggles about
what to do. Meanwhile, Caroline's
daughter wants to see changes for
African Americans.
Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner
(Angels in America) wrote the book and
lyrics. George C. Wolf directs.
Previews began Oct. 29; the show is
scheduled to open Nov. 30.

At the Public Theater's Newman
Theater, 425 Lafayette St.,
(212) 239-6200.

Listen To My Heart: The Songs of David
Friedman: Songwriter David Friedman's
inspirational tunes and love songs,
including "Help Is On The Way" and
"I'll Be Here With You," are performed
each night by theater veterans, including
talented Jewish singer Alix Korey.
Pianist Friedman (see accompanying
article) adds humor to the revue, and
the lighthearted numbers "If You Love
Me, Please Don't Feed Me,"_ and "I'm
Not My Mother" are sure to strike a
chord with Jewish audience members.
At Studio 54 upstairs, 254 West
54th St., (212) 239-6200.

Private Jokes, Public Places: Written by
Oren Safdie, the play takes a humorous

— Alice Burdick Schweiger

Joseph Spiotta as Benny and Stuart Marshall as Sh/omo

11/14
2003

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`. Stoop on Orchard Street"