NYTF Radio

Fiddler on the Roof  is the story of Tevye the Milkman and his struggles to adapt to changing traditions in his little village of Anatevke. But who’s motivating him to adapt to these changes at all?

Tevye has six opinionated, intelligent, and independent women in his life — his wife, Golde, and his five daughters: Tsaytl, Hodl, Khave, Shprintze, and Bielke. Their wits and whims shepherd Tevye through his development and open his eyes to the wide world outside of his established routines and rituals. He is forced to respect new traditions because they are brought to him by people he respects. In context, respecting other men is one thing — respecting the minds and hearts of women was wholly rare.

We had the privilege of speaking to the women of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish about their feelings on the musical, their characters, and uprooting tradition in favor of the pursuit of lifelong happiness and fulfillment. Jennifer Babiak, Rachel Zatcoff, Stephanie Lynne Mason, Rosie Jo Neddy, Raquel Nobile, and Jodi Snyder appear in this round table discussion, hosted by NYTF communications and social media associate Sarah Jae Leiber. 

On today's episode, we have an exciting panel discussion diving into the life and times of Kadya Molodowsky featuring Molodowsky experts Kathryn Hellerstein and Anita Norich for a chat with translator Faith Jones.

Kadye Molodowsky's play Ale Fenster tsu der Zun (All Windows Face the Sun) will be presented to view online from June 21st and will remain archived on the National Yiddish Theatre Website. 

You can view the work on the Yiddish Women's Playwright Series page at nytf.org/women 

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In this new episode of NYTF Radio, Folksbiene associate artistic director (and Ale Fentster cast member) Motl Didner sits down with director and designer Jenny Romaine to discuss her vision for the virtual production. 

All Windows Face the Sun is the story of Binyumen, an optimistic builder’s apprentice who creates a magical tower that allows listeners to hear the past — hoping that looking back will help the world to move forward. But when the tower shares some unpleasant truths, the people in power must choose between the convenience of forgetting and facing the ugly realities of human history head on.

Listen here for more background on how the production came to be and what to expect from the unique, funny, and hopeful story of Binyumen’s tower. 

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On Today’s episode, our very own Sarah Jae Leiber sits down to talk with Actress Sierra Boggess who is currently starring in Harmony: A New Musical. In the interview, Sierra tells us how she first became involved in the project, discusses her creative relationship with Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman, and Warren Carlyle, plus she tells us why she thinks the story of the Comedian Harmonists is still relevant today. 

A New York Times Critics’ Pick and a recipient of 8 Outer Critics Circle Nominations including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical. Harmony: A New Musical must end May 15th 2022. To  purchase tickets, please visit nytf.org/harmony

On today’s episode, NYTF Associate Artistic Director, Motl Didner sits down for an in depth conversation with actress Daniella Rabbani, a familiar face in the Folksbiene family. 

In the episode, we learn about about Daniella’s Jewish upbringing, her time studying theater at NYU, plus we hear all about riding in the van driven by our very own Motl Didner, as a member of NYTF’s Folksbiene Acting Troupe, AND we learn about her role in the motion picture Ocean’s 8 and many other projects she’s been cooking up lately. 

Be sure to catch Daniella performing in her virtual concert with MusicTalks. This Monday Feb 14 2022. MusicTalks will be screening a very special concert celebrating Valentine’s Day. This concert by Daniella Rabbani will include songs celebrating love and our love to the Yiddish language performed by a five-piece ensemble and led by Folksbiene’s Artistic Director  Zalmen Mlotek and a special appearance by Steven Skybell (Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish). 

To register please go to https://musiclove.eventbrite.com

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We had the opportunity to speak to Rachel Blaustein, who leads the cast of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. The opera opened Thursday night to a sold-out crowd and a hungry audience grateful to be gathered in a theater together once again. 

Blaustein tells us about the way she got to know the story of the Finzi-Continis and the way she felt learning about the Jews of Ferrara, Italy who were murdered during the Holocaust. The granddaughter of survivors, Blaustein also shares how working on Finzi deepened her relationship to her family’s past.

Praised for her "brilliant lyric soprano and apparent ease" (San Diego Story), Rachel Blaustein is poised as a bright and up-and-coming artist, with a moving sensibility to drama and text.

For tickets to The Garden of the Finzi Continis go to nytf.org/finzi-continis

In the latest edition of NYTF Radio, we invite you to meet the creative team behind The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, opening in less than one week and running from Jan. 27 – Feb. 6.

What makes a production happen? Who are the people that create a world-premiere opera where there never was one before? In this series of interviews with representatives from NYTF and the New York City Opera’s latest production, get behind-the-scenes scoop on the creative process that brought The Garden of the Finzi-Continis to life over the past few years. 

For tickets to The Garden of the Finzi Continis please go to  nytf.org/finzi-continis

Today we have a very special episode for you today, an intimate conversation between Tony-nominated former NYTF artistic director Eleanor Reissa and current NYTF artistic director Zalmen Mlotek 

In this exclusive interview, longtime friends Mlotek and Reissa sit down to discuss the incredible story that inspired Reissa’s new book, The Letters Project: A Daughter’s Journey. You can purchase The Letters Project: A Daughter’s Journey at Amazon or wherever you buy your books, including Eleanor's  website www.eleanorreissa.com and for the audio book read by the author, that can be found at audible.com

This is the audio version of the interview, we are delighted to offer a video version of the interview including archival photos of Eleanor Reissa’s family on our website NYTF.org/live. 

Today’s episode guest is stand up comedian Modi Rosenfeld. Voted one of the top 10 comedians in New York City by The Hollywood Reporter, MODI is one of the comedy circuit’s most sought after performers. Featured on HBO, CBS, NBC, ABC, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, and E! Entertainment, MODI has received rave reviews in The New York Times, Time Out NY and The New York Post.

In the episode, Modi talks to NYTF's Bobby Underwood (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, Amerike: The Golden Land) about his career in standup, his favorite yiddish songs, what it’s like being a Jewish Comedian, his audition with the Sopranos and so much more.

You can see Modi Rosenfeld perform his latest stand up show MODI: Know Your Audience which performs on Tuesday  October 26, 2021 at the at Broward Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL and then on November 9,  2021 at the North Shore Ctr. for the Performing Arts in Skokie Illinois. For tickets, go to modilive.com/shows. 

To check out upcoming programming at NYTF, visit our website, nytf.org

On today’s episode, we interview NYTF Associate Artistic Director Motl Didner who, along with Zalmen Mlotek, are in the midst of putting together A Yiddish Renaissance, A Virtual Concert Celebration. 

Motl took the time out of his day to conversation titled “Putting It All Together” is a full on in depth background of the Yiddish Renaissance, the rise of Yiddish in our pop culture, and a behind the scenes look at piecing together a full scale online concert featuring over 140+ artists. So let’s take it away to Motl Didner.