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— Danny Raskin

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The Versatile
Dudu Fisher

The Israeli entertainer

does it all — and brings

it to Metro Detroit.

Stacy Gittleman

I Contributing Writer

ccording to world-renowned
Israeli entertainer Dudu Fisher,
no other Broadway musical
— not even Fiddler on the Roof — speaks
as well of the psyche of the Israeli people,
with its themes of going to battle and los-
ing loved ones in war, than Les Miserables.
On many different levels, Fisher says it
translates very well to Hebrew.
"When I first heard [the song] Empty
Chairs at Empty Tables, I was thinking of
all my friends killed in battle Fisher, 64,
says. "After the Israeli premiere, [produc-
er] Cameron Mackintosh said he sensed a
response from the audience that he never
felt from audiences in other countries. I
had to explain to him that 99 percent of
the people sitting in the theater were serv-
ing in the army or have someone close
serving. I told him not one of us does not
know people wounded or killed during
the time of Israel's existence:'
Fisher, who tours the world sharing his
love and talents for Hebrew, Yiddish and
cantorial music, as well as operatic, reg-
gae, pop and country, will perform 7:30
p.m. Sunday, April 19, at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
After service in the Israel Defense
Forces, Fisher studied at the Tel Aviv
Academy of Music and, at age 22, he
became the cantor of the Great Synagogue
of Tel Aviv. For three decades, his canto-
rial services have been sought throughout
the world, from South Africa and Brazil
to the United States. To date, the tenor,
who speaks three languages and sings in
10, has recorded upwards of 40 albums,
plus a number of children's DVDs, teach-
ing Jewish customs and traditions.
On a 1986 trip to London, he caught
a performance of the then-new musical
Les Miserables and was enamored. When
news spread that a Hebrew-language
Israeli production of the show was in the
works, Fisher, with no theater experience,
landed the leading role of Jean Valjean.
He performed for three years in Israel,

A

plus lengthy stints on Broadway and
London's West End.
Fisher's Hebrew performances
launched him to international fame, and
his 2008 PBS special Dudu Fisher: In
Concert from Israel was enormously pop-
ular. But performing on Broadway as an
Orthodox Jew came with its challenges.
He was able to negotiate a contract for Les
Miz which made him the first observant
Jew on Broadway and the West End to be
excused from performing Friday nights,
Saturday matinees and all Jewish holi-
days, but his observance impeded him
from landing additional roles. He wanted
to audition for Phantom of the Opera and
still dreams of playing Don Quixote in

Man of La Mancha.
"[Observant Jews in show business]
should be mentally prepared to be met
with many setbacks," he says. However,
setbacks often lead to inspiration. When
Fisher sings at Shaarey Zedek, he will
perform songs from his 1999 autobio-
graphical off-Broadway musical, Never on
Friday — an anecdotal work exploring
the complications of his experience on
Broadway as an observant Jew. The tenor
also will perform pieces from his 2008
show, Jerusalem, based on a collection of
songs and stories that tell the history of
the ancient and holy city.
Fisher has a passion for sharing the
music of what he calls "his most beloved
city" with audience members Jewish
and non-Jewish alike. His own father
and other family members survived the
Holocaust when a Christian couple hid
them in a bunker in Poland.
Fisher, who wants to let his listeners
know that Jerusalem is holy to all reli-
gions, tries to reach audiences outside the
Jewish community, too — and fans in
Branson, Mo. (known as the Las Vegas of
the Bible Belt), welcome his annual visit
"It is important for the State of Israel
to have non-Jewish people hear the
true story of Israel's history and current
issues:' he says. "Not only what they see
on the news:' ❑

Dudu Fisher performs 7:30
p.m. Sunday, April 19, at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
in Southfield.
Free to CSZ members;
$36-$236. (248) 357-5544.

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April 9 • 2015

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