Soul Doctor, the Rockin' Rabbi Musical, Will Play Off-Broadway Starting July 30 With Eric Anderson | Playbill

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News Soul Doctor, the Rockin' Rabbi Musical, Will Play Off-Broadway Starting July 30 With Eric Anderson Soul Doctor, the musical about the real-life unconventional rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, his passion for pop music and his relationship with soul singer Nina Simone, will play New York City July 30-Aug. 19.

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Eric Anderson

The Manhattan staging, a guest attraction at New York Theatre Workshop (79 E. 4th Street), follows developmental runs at two venues in Florida in 2011-12, and performances in New Orleans in 2010. Opening night is Aug. 13.

Written and directed by Daniel Wise and choreographed by the Princess Grace award-winning choreographer Camille A. Brown, the show has music by Carlebach, lyrics by Drama Desk-nominated David Schechter, with additional music and arrangements by Nina Simone.

Producers Jeremy Chess, Joel Kahn, Jerome Levy, Edward L. Steinberg, Robert Beckwitt and Alan Zimbard present this limited run.

The company includes Eric Anderson (of Broadway's South Pacific) as Shlomo Carlebach (he also played the role in Florida last winter following a casting shakeup) and Erica Ash (Broadway's The Lion King; Baby It's You!, "Mad TV") as Nina Simone, with Meredith Kaye Clarke (Wicked), Ryan Strand (Jersey Boys), Kenny Morris, Rachel Stern, Dionne Figgins, Ryan Duncan and Julia Osborne.

Here's how the production is billed: "Soul Doctor tells the story of the beloved yet controversial father of popular Jewish music, rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and explores his unlikely friendship with the 'High Priestess of Soul' Nina Simone. Beginning with his childhood escape from Nazi Germany, the show takes us on a musical odyssey through the challenges and triumphs of this cultural phenomenon, as he becomes a rabbinical prodigy in America, discovers Gospel and Soul music during his friendship with Simone, and has a meteoric rise as a 'Rock Star Rabbi' in the 1960s, performing with Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. This taste of stardom is a double-edged sword as Shlomo struggles with the personal conflicts of keeping his family together while traversing the globe, and reconciling his deep traditional roots with his desire to reach people of all backgrounds." The creative team includes musician Steve Margoshes (who arranges and "weaves" 30 of Carlebach's songs into the story), Seth Farber (musical direction and orchestrations), Jeff Croiter (lighting) and Clive Goodwin (sound).

Performances will play Monday through Wednesday evenings at 7 PM, Thursdays at 8 PM and Saturdays at 9 PM. Matinees are Wednesday and Sunday at 2 PM. There are no Friday evening performances.

Tickets are $85 and can be purchased online from TicketCentral.com or by calling (212) 279-4200.

 
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