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"This is the Life!"—Yiddish Theater in New York

Bryna Wasserman, executive director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene and daughter of Yiddish actress Dora Wasserman, reflects on the beginning of her career as an actress and living in New York City.

Yiddish Theater in the 20th Century: an Interconnected, International Scene

Caraid O'Brien—writer, performer, and director, including of Yiddish works—describes the international phenomena of Yiddish theater during the 20th century. Much of her understanding came from Caraid's close relationships with Yiddish actors Luba Kad...

He Made the Difficult Switch from Yiddish to Hebrew: Zygmunt Turkow's Theater Career

Shura Grinhoyz—Yiddish actress and activist born in Bialystok, now living in Israel—recalls her brother-in-law Zygmunt Turkow, whom she worked with in Yiddish, although he switched to Hebrew Theater later in his life in Israel.

Memories of A Great Yiddish Theater in Bialystok

Shura Grinhoyz-Turkow—Yiddish actress and activist born in Bialystok, now living in Israel—describes the Yiddish theater community in Bialystok before the Holocaust.

Ida Kaminska and Yiddish Theater in Post-War Warsaw

Shura Grinhoyz-Turkow—Yiddish actress and activist born in Bialystok, now living in Israel—describes the State Jewish Theater in Post-war Warsaw, directed by the great Ida Kaminska.

"That Brought Down the House": A Yiddish Theater Goof

Bernie Agranoff, scientist and professor at the University of Michigan, whose uncle was a Yiddish theater prompter in Detroit, remembers a story where a Yiddish theater actor, usually cast as a Hasid, made a humorous mistake during a different role.

Boris Aronson’s Funny Stories about Maurice Schwartz and Distance from Yiddish Theater

Marc Aronson, son of Yiddish theater set designers Boris and Lisa Aronson, shares some funny stories that his father used to tell about working with Maurice Schwartz.

Yiddish Theater in Israel

Lea Szlanger, a Yiddish actress born in Poland describes the decline of Yiddish theater in Israel.

Advice To The Yiddish Theater Curious

Caraid O'Brien—writer, performer, and director, including of Yiddish works—gives advice to those curious about Yiddish theater and culture, including encouragement to learn the Yiddish language.

Riga's Beloved Yiddish Theater

Yakob Basner, Yiddish teacher and Holocaust survivor, recalls the thriving Yiddish theater scene in Riga before the war, and how he used to go to show with his neighbor who worked as a stagehand.

Tilting at Windmills: Keeping Faith in Yiddish Theater

Allen Lewis Rickman, Yiddish actor, describes how he sees the future of Yiddish theater by comparing it to the adventures of Don Quixote.

"Off-Broadway," A Phrase Courtesy of the Yiddish Theater

Hershl Hartman, native Yiddish speaker and educational director at the Sholem Community in California, shares some anecdotes about Yiddish theater in New York City.

Yiddish Theater in Montreal

Malca Sussman Hubner recalls going to the Yiddish theater in Montreal as a child.

On the Centenary of the Yiddish Theater

Eugene Orenstein

Eugene Orenstein

May 15, 1976

"Everything Stems from The Dybbuk": Impact of the Yiddish and Theater on My Life

Lester Thomas Shane, son of Yiddish actor Sam Shane, talks about Yiddish theater as the root of his identity and the process of learning Yiddish later in life.

Describes Yiddish Theater in Dubienka, Poland and the Play "Mirele Efros"

Celia Ores, Yiddish speaker born in Poland and survivor of the Gulag, describes Yiddish theater in Dubienka, Poland and narrates the play "Mirele Efros," which she saw as a child.

Rick Grossman Remembers His Early Performances in Yiddish Theater

Rick Grossman, actor and part of a Yiddish theater family, talks about his performance in Wish Me Luck and the legacy that performance has had on his family. He also remembers his close relationships with various famous Yiddish performers and compose...

They Made Fun of Life: Memories of the Yiddish Theater

Eleanor Rothfeld, born in Lvov and raised in the United States, remembers how much she enjoyed visiting the Yiddish theater as a young woman.