Welcome to The National Yiddish Theatre

FOLKSBIENE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Through its Outreach programs, the Folksbiene brings Yiddish culture to audiences of all ages in community centers, synagogues, schools, senior centers and college campuses around the city and across the nation. Performances have been presented across the New York metropolitan area, in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Albany, Ithaca, Rochester, Amherst, Dayton, Cleveland, and internationally in Poland.

The Folksbiene Troupe

At the heart of the program is the Di Trupe, which takes Yiddish theatre to audiences unable to attend mainstage productions. Its seven vibrant young performers, under the direction of Motl Didner (who also performs with the group) are refining their skills in Yiddish performance as they bring their work to enthusiastic audiences hungry for entertainment and social interaction.

Folksbiene @ CUNY

The Folksbiene also brings Yiddish theatre to audiences that may not have experienced how fresh and enjoyable Yiddish culture can be. Now entering its fifth year, the Folksbiene@CUNY series sponsors free performances of staged readings of classic Yiddish plays and concerts on City University of New York campuses: Baruch, Brooklyn, Hunter, Lehman and Queens Colleges.

Kids and Yiddish

Kids and Yiddish warmly celebrates the classical and contemporary, the old and the new. Hailed as “90% English/10% Yiddish,” this annual tradition introduces youngsters to the magic of the Yiddish language and the culture's rich theatrical traditions. Its rich stew of musical styles - everything from rock, rap, klezmer and calypso to Irving Berlin and Jewish folk traditions - plays to hundreds of children and parents each year. Past productions offered audience members “A Bisl Yiddish” vocabulary and phrases to take home and enjoy.

This project has been supported by a grant from the
Conference On Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.