The worlds of classic TV and theatre are
about to collide in a most amazing and hilarious way:
From February 1st to March 10th,
The Greencourt Theatre In Los Angeles will present “When You’re In Love The
Whole World Is Jewish,” directed by Jason Alexander, written by Bob Booker,
co-produced by Danny Gold and Joey Riback, and featuring a stellar cast,
including Lynn Adrianna, Barry Gordon, Brian Herskowitz, Michael Pasternak,
Ellen Ratner, Robert Shampain, Rena Strober, and Jay Brian Winnick.
Renaissance man Alexander, best known as
George Constanza on Seinfeld, is one of Hollywood’s most
talented and multi-faceted performers.
Booker clocks in with over 500 hours classic television that he has
produced and written. Gold is defined by
his very name when it comes to productions from not only the classic world of
TV (such as the acclaimed DVD release of Kung
Fu), but new classics such as the Award-winning documentary, 100 Voices: A Journey Home (released theatrically
and recently screened on KCET-TV in LA). Riback has
appeared on or written everything from The
Merv Griffin Show to Murphy Brown
to The Sweet Life of Zach & Cody.
Classically-trained actress Adrianna,
whose background is as rich in culture as it is talent, has appeared on new
classic TV shows like Law & Order:
Criminal Intent. The ever-affable
Barry Gordon is best known in the classic TV world from his stints on The New Dick Van Dyke Show and Archie Bunker’s Place. And the long-lasting career of Brian Herskowitz
fondly traces back as far as Eight is
Enough.
This versatile cast, production team, and
their colleagues now combine to deliver “When You’re In Love The Whole World Is
Jewish,” the premise for which, according to its website, is this:
When a young Jewish boy decides he wants
to marry his very gentile girlfriend, who knows nothing about Jewish customs or
culture, he seeks the help of his Rabbi. The learned man then acts as a guide,
taking the couple on a ride through the Jewish way of life, as a way of
educating the young girl. This laugh-filled journey, incorporating twenty-five
legendary comedy sketches and songs, covers every facet of Jewish life, from
business and travel, to marriage and family, and is sure to appeal to all,
because as the title of the show says, "When You're In Love, The Whole
World Is Jewish."
The backstory?
In 1965, there was an innovative album
that captured the public’s imagination, and it was titled “You Don’t Have To Be
Jewish,” which was released by Kapp Records.
It featured the talented voices of additionally talented actors (and
classic TV greats) like Lou Jacobi, Betty Walker, Jack Gilford, and Frank
Gallop.
This collection of classic Jewish humor
was written and produced by Bob Booker and George Foster, this collection of
classic Jewish humor was, within weeks of its release, a Top 10 hit. It also received a Grammy nomination as
“Comedy Album of the Year.”
The following year a sequel was released,
titled, “When You’re In Love, The Whole World Is Jewish,” once more produced Kapp
Records, and featuring Jacobi, Walker, Gallop, who sang The ballad of Irving
(which became a Top 10 hit). This second
album also featured a young actress from New York named Valerie Harper, who would
go on to find classic TV fame of her own as Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and then her
own spin-off, Rhoda.
The forward story?
“When You’re In Love The Whole World Is
Jewish” - the play - is a MUST-SEE classic TV and musical theatre world event!
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