Broadway in Tel Aviv

How do you capture a truly attentive audience in Tel Aviv. Simply bring a over an original Broadway show via London’s West End to our sunny shores! We may have a slight language barrier when it comes to the nuances of English but, can fully appreciate a nostalgic song or two at its finest. The production “You won’t succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews”, was brought to the Assia theater in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art by Collaborative Artists Ltd, in order that we too could join the celebration of Jewish contribution to Musical Theater for over eighty years.

This show is a wonderful historical catalogue of musical innovation created by Broadways most renown Jewish composers and songwriters. With a panoramic stage back drop of New York’s thespian district, an orchestral accompaniment and a mix of Anglo & Israeli performers, we the audience, (yours truly and sweet girlfriend in the stalls) were led through the melodic passages of time.

Beginning in the 30’s until present day, we were introduced to information that perhaps only persons in the performing world would be aware of, presented with super renditions of the greatest hits of the age and charmed with some lively dance routines. We were privy to foot tapping, heading nodding blockbuster lyrics belted from the hearts and lungs of the handsome performers portraying the successes of legendary Jewish artists such as Ira and George Gershwin.

Sweet girlfriend, with no particular fondness for musicals, was gobsmacked for nearly the entire show. Totally immersed in the production (my picture snapping didn’t even seem to faze her) then emerging from the auditorium with a smile on her face, I believe this enjoyably sweet performance may have converted another Jew or two into the whimsical world of theater …