“Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy”

[rating=5]About a week ago, my friend Barry who spends his winters in sunny Florida, watched a documentary film on Amazon Prime called “Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy” and immediately sent me a text message that I NEEDED to see this 85 minute film.

I only have one TV that is smart enough for us to watch this channel, but thought I might find it elsewhere. I searched and I searched, finding a shorter version of this amazing film on U-Tube. This was part of PBS/WTTW Great Performances ( season 40, episode 6th, that aired in 2013.

With Barry’s guidance, we were able to watch the full show on our “one and only” smart TV and both Jane and I found ourselves mesmerized by this wonderful look at the Broadway Musical itself. We learned that a lot of music for these shows was in fact written by Jewish composers. That a great deal of the inspiration itself, if one listens closely is the sound that one hears during a Sabbath or High Holiday service. Yes, the chant of a Cantor is what in many cases inspired the composer to create the songs that is our “musical”.

Engaging, humorous, and provocative, Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy examines the unique role of Jewish composers and lyricists in the creation of the modern American musical. The film showcases the work of legends such as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim. Interviews with songwriters and luminaries including Sheldon Harnick, Stephen Schwartz, Harold Prince, Arthur Laurents, Charles Strouse, and Mel Brooks provide insight, alongside standout performances and archival footage.

This is a special moment for lovers of musical theater and should be viewed by everyone. As a people, the knowledge of how this happened is quite rewarding and certainly makes us even prouder of our heritage and the legacy that we have put out there. Everyone loves a musical, so why not feel the emotion of what this story brings to each and every one of us.

Try to find a copy, to either view, own or rent. Even the short version which is free and available is a delight, but the full version is in my opinion a MUST SEE!

Barry and Fern- Thank you for sharing!

I am pretty sure you can purchase at www.amazon.com