The "Dovid Herman Theater" at the "Kadimah"
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| The "Dovid Herman Theater" at the "Kadimah" founded in 1948 by Yankev Weislitz and Rokhl Holtzer, presented numerous highly acclaimed plays for almost 50 years. It was itself heir to a venerable Australian Yiddish theatrical tradition, tracing back to 1908. The history and stories of the Yiddish theatre and the Dovid Herman Theatre in particular, are now the subject of an excellent book in English and Yiddish, "Wanderers and Dreamers - Tales of the David Herman Theatre" by Arnold Zable and "The History of the Dovid Herman Theatre" by Moishe Ajzenbud. It contains numerous photos and relates the engrossing story of this theatre's long season 'downunder'. |
The "Dovid Herman Theater" at the "Kadimah"
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| Along the walls of the stairwell leading up to the Leo Fink Hall at the "Kadimah", hang charcoal portraits of actors in costume and make-up, penned during dress rehearsals by the great Polish Yiddish theatre director and artist Josef Rotboym, who was a visiting director in the mid 1970's. These are fine portraits of actors of the 'Dovid Herman Theatre' at the "Kadimah". |
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Other portraits hanging along the walls of the stairwell of the building, are the wonderfully evocative pastel sketches of beloved characters from the Yiddish stage and literature, such as Tevye, Menachem Mendl, Di Makhshayfe, Di Kunileml and others, also penned by the Polish Yiddish director Josef Rotboym. |
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| The Melbourne Yiddish
(Youth) Theatre at
the "Kadimah", was the successor of the long established "Dovid Herman
Theater" at the "Kadimah" and
forged its own style of theatrical expression. It was founded by younger Yiddish actors in the early 1970's and has a proud history of many excellent shows, including Yiddish translations of Arthur Miller's "The Price", "The Diary of Anna Frank", Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" and classics and more modern plays such as Sholem Aleichem's "200,000", Itzik Manger's "Megilleh Lider" and others. |
The Melbourne Yiddish (Youth) Theatre at the "Kadimah"
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The Melbourne Yiddish Theatre at the "Kadimah", has over the years staged popular musicals such as the wonderful concert-theatrical production "Der Nign", a tribute to the Yiddish folksongs. This highly successful production was followed by a very much loved "Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Gein" the story of modern Jewish migration, written by Arnold Zable. An innovative theme was represented in another theatrical - musical production, "Mazl Tov Cobbers", a collaborative piece by Alex Dafner and Leon Gettler, about the first 100 years of Jewish life in Australia. All these musicals have included many well known Yiddish songs, as well as a few lesser known songs and original creations. More recently members of the MYT staged a highly successful "Itzik Manger 100th Jubilee Concert". |
The last full theatrical production of the Melbourne Yiddish Theatre at the "Kadimah" was the highly successful "Fiddler Oyfn Dakh - Fiddler On The Roof", with all songs performed in Yiddish. For further details about the MYT please contact:- Alex Dafner :-( adafner@primus.com.au |
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