Music and lyrics are by Jewish
brothers Richard M. Sherman and
Robert B. Sherman, who have written
more than 150 songs for Disney,
including "It's a Small World After
All."

At the Hilton Theater, 213 West 42nd
St. (212) 307-4100.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
This comedy, which is based on the
1988 Steve Martin and Michael Caine
film, is about two con men who join
forces on the French Riviera to fleece
wealthy women. One of the men is a
small-scale swindler, the other a
sophisticated pro. The two make a bet:
The first to swindle an American
female out of $50,000 wins, and the
loser has to leave town.
Music and lyrics are by David
Yazbek (The Full Monty), whose moth-
er is Jewish and father is Arabic. The
show stars John Lithgow and co-stars
Sara Gettelfinger.
At the Imperial Theatre, 249 West
45th St. (212) 239-6200.

Doubt
Set in 1964 against the backdrop of
a Catholic school, a woman faces a
difficult decision: Should she voice a
concern about possible sexual abuse by
one of the popular priests, even
though she is not sure it is the truth?
Lynne Meadow, who is Jewish, is the
artistic director for Doubt, a
Manhattan Theatre Club production.
Meadow directed the Broadway hit
Tale of the _Allergist's Wife.
At the Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West
48th St. (212) 239-6200

Jackie Mason Freshly Squeezed: Just
One Jew Talking
This veteran stand-up comic/ex-
rabbi is back with another witty one-
man show. Mason, with his funny yet
acid tongue, covers everything from
celebrities on trial to same sex relation-
ships to the Atkins Diet.
At the Helen Hayes Theater 240 West
44th St. (212) 239-6200.

Lennon
A tribute to Beatle John Lennon,
this musical is a re-enactment of the
singer-songwriter's life. Through his
own music, including classics
"Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance,"
the story gives insight into Lennon's
personal journey while showing the
sociopolitical climate of the time. The
ensemble consists of nine performers
and a ten-piece onstage band. Natasha

BROADWAY BONANZA

on page 95

Hamalot in "Spamalot"

Steve Rosen enjoys his first Broadway role in 'Monty Python's Spamalot."

Broadway shows. They sent both to
performing
arts camps. "I have been
Special to the Jewish News
acting since I was 7," Rosen says.
Rosen went on to NYU's theater
onty Python's Spamalot is
program and then did what most
Broadway's newest musical
actors do when they start out: He
hit, and the producers owe
struggled. He waited tables and
it all to Steve Rosen.
worked as an office temp. "One of the
Sure, there are some in the
worst jobs I ever had was handing out
Broadway community who credit Eric
fliers for a bankruptcy auction. I was
Idle with its success. After all, he
one of those guys whose existence
wrote the book, music and lyrics for
everyone ignores.
the musical comedy, which is based on
"One of the indignities of being an
the film Monty Python and the Holy
actor
is that even though I was out in
Grail. Others believe David Hyde
the freezing cold, I was actu-
Pierce, who plays Sir
ally going to be on national
Robin, and Tim Curry,
television that night. I had a
as King Arthur, had
role on [the TV show] Ed.
something to do with
But I still had to have a sec-
it.
ond job in the daytime. And
But just listen to the
who
is the first person to
dialogue in the middle
come out of Grand Central
of Act II, when some-
Station at 6 a.m.? A kid I
one suggests the king
went to high school with."
and his knights go to
Ironically one of Rosen's
Broadway:
part-time jobs — as an audi-
tion reader — got him the
Arthur: Do you know
role in Spamalot, his first on
this Broadway?
Broadway. Tara Rubin, who
Robin: Yes, sire, and we
cast Spamalot, hired him to
don't stand a chance
read lines to actors coming in
there.
for roles.
Arthur: Why not?
It was cash in his pocket, of
Robin: Because
course,
but Rosen says it was
Broadway is a very spe-
also
great
training. I learned
cial place, filled with
how
to
act
with any actor. I
very special people,
Top to bottom: Hank Azaria as Sir Lancelot and Steve Rosen as
learned how to be a great lis-
people who can sing
Concorde in `Monty Python's Spamalot"
tener. And if acting is react-
and dance, often at the
ing, I was basically spending
same time. They are a
my day reacting."
different people. They
The
production
team apparently
Hyde
Pierce
was
especially
con-
are a multitalented people, a people
liked
the
way
he
reacted,
asked him to
cerned
that
the
song
might
offend.
"It
who need people, who are in many
come in and sing, and he was hired.
was the last thing he wanted to do,"
ways the luckiest people in the world.
Rosen has a sort of Jewish look
says Rosen. He kept asking around, 'Is
Arthur: But why?
about him. "I've played my share of
this offensive? Is that offensive?'"
Fiddlers, and I've done my golems. I've
Rosen, 26, grew up in Rochester,
Robin then breaks out in a song:
played a lot of Jewish characters. I'm
"In any great adventure! If you don't N.Y., in a Reform environment. "We
not a traditional leading man. I feel
attended Temple Sinai. I'm not the
want to lose/ Victory depends upon
it's important not to be typecast. Who
most
religious
person,
but
I
do
have
a
the people that you choose./ So listen
I
am as a human being informs who I
strong
sense
of
faith,"
he
says.
Arthur, darling, closely to this news./
am as an actor, but it doesn't control
"I think the culture and tradition
We won't succeed on Broadway/ If we
who I am as an actor.
and values that my family taught me,
don't have any Jews."
"My last name is Rosen. I assume
the warmth and humor, instilled in
The song goes on to suggest that a
people know I'm Jewish. But I would
me qualities that I still use today and
plethora of Jews will result in fewer
think my skill as an actor and the
have made me the performer I am."
boos and better reviews.
attention
I pay to my craft will make
His
parents
also
instilled
in
him
a
When his importance to this project
people
see
beyond what their initial
love
of
show
business.
They
made
it
a
was pointed out, Rosen, who plays Sir
impressions might be." Li
point to take Steve and his brother to
Bedevere (among other roles), quickly
New York City once a year to see
agreed with the analysis. "Thank you,

CURT SCHLEIER

iff

thank you," he said in a recent tele-
phone interview. "[As a Jew], I have
to take full credit." .
The song was always in the show
but went through "a whole gestation
process that always takes place," adds
Rosen. "I think it's the perfect place in
the show. I'm saying this as a specta-
tor, because I make an entrance at the
end of the number. I think it's a testa-
ment to [choreographer] Casey
Nicholaw that it turns into this enor-
mous number that gets an ovation
every night."

5/19
2005

91