A legendary Rabbi. Broadway, singing and dancing. You may not normally associate these two things. But was I in for a surprise when I walked into the Actors Temple Theatre to see the off Broadway production of Soul Doctor. Originally debuting in New Orleans and finally making its way to Broadway in August 2013, Soul Doctor tells the story of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, yes that Carlebach, and his journey to becoming one of the twentieth century’s most famous and beloved Rabbinical figures. With his catchy melodies and endless amount of energy and love for the Jewish people, it’s no wonder why the creators of the show felt that Rav Carlebach was the perfect fit for Broadway.
With the book written by Daniel S. Wise, music by Rav Shlomo Carlebach himself, and additional lyrics by David Schechter, many people, including myself, were curious as to how a Broadway show could portray the life of such a dynamic figure in recent Jewish history and the music world. Would the producers and director accurately portray the life of the man who led a life full of triumphs as well as controversies? One thing I was assured of prior to even attending the performance – that the songs would not disappoint and even theatergoers who were not familiar with Rav Carlebach’s stirring and beautiful melodies would be clapping and stamping their feet with the rest of the actors on stage.
The show begins in the 1960s, with Rav Carlebach at the peak of his fame. He’s giving a concert in Vienna, Austria, where he hasn’t been since his family left due to the Nazi occupation in Austria. The story continues at the very beginning as Carlebach grows up in Vienna, experiencing life under the Nazi regime. When his father, a Rabbi from a long line of renowned Austrian Rabbis, moves his family to the Upper West Side, Shlomo is expected to learn in Yeshiva and join the family dynasty. However, as his brother yearns for something in life other than learning, the rise of Chabad and Jewish outreach greatly appeal to both Eli Chaim and Shlomo.
After joining Chabad, Shlomo meets an up-and-coming musician, the real life Jazz singer Nina Simone. They soon start an unlikely friendship based on their mutual understanding of trying to break out of rote religion while struggling, but still keeping to the traditions of their faith. He wants to play music and reach out to unaffiliated Jews, even though his father disapproves. The theatergoer can sympathize with Rav Carlebach through his journey as Shlomo understands a great insight about the human condition: Music has the power to touch a person’s soul.
Josh Nelson stars as Carlebach, and portrays him as a sweet, charismatic, and even sometimes naive man. His soulful renditions of the classic songs “Ki Va Moed,” and “Od Yishama” brings energy to the show and makes the audience feel as though the real Rav Carlebach is singing before them. However it is Dan’yelle Williamson who steals the show as the confident yet unsure Nina Simone, who through her friendship with Rav Shlomo realizes how similar she is to her friend “Shalamo,” a laugh for the audience with the mispronunciation of the star’s Hebrew name. When she sings “Sleepin’ in the Park,” I along with the rest of the audience, was ready to give her a standing ovation even before she concluded the song. Other musical highlights include the moving “Always With You,” a duet sung by Nelson and Williamson. The emotion they bring through their powerful voices is one of the production’s highlights. Other key musical moments include “I Was a Sparrow” sung by Dianna Barger and Hayden Wall’s performance as a young Shlomo.
To my pleasant surprise, the small and modest stage created the perfect backdrop for the intimate performance of Rav Carlebach. The Actors Temple Theater is housed in a functioning synagogue, an appropriate fit for the show about “The Singing Rabbi.” The actors made great use of the space, using the aisle and the sides of the theater as part their stage; even the large dance numbers didn’t look crowded onto the small stage. Many of the actors played multiple roles, yet never confused the audience in trying to determine which character each actor played in the various scenes. The costumes were modest but helped tell the story; no character looked out of place in what they were wearing.
Of course, as with every famous figure, there are controversies that follow the Soul Doctor. Many people did not understand the new ideas that Rav Carlebach introduced to try to bring Jews back to their faith. The show emphasizes this, when even his father condemns Shlomo’s new “radical” ways. The show did take some liberties and may have stretched the truth to make the show more exciting. Yet the show does a fantastic job demonstrating the hard line between tradition and modernity, and that Rav Shlomo’s heart and intentions were coming from a pure place of love for the Jewish people.
To sum up his ideology, Rav Shlomo Carlebach once said, “If I had two hearts, I could use one to love and one to hate. But I only have one heart, so I use it to love!” This valuable lesson gives me a lot to ponder about regarding creating relationships with my “holy brothers and holy sisters” of the Jewish people, all while singing to myself at the same time.
Soul Doctor runs until May 3, 2015 and is playing at the Actors Temple Theater at 339 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. Tickets are available online or at St. Luke’s Box Office at 308 West 46th Street and range from $79.50-$99.00. Discount tickets are available for groups online.