TOVAH FELDSHUH, TSIDII, JANA ROBBINS, CHARLOTTE COHN & KLEZMER RAP ARTIST SOCALLED STAR IN "A BROADWAY YIDDISH CABARET"

ONE-NIGHT-ONLY OCTOBER 21

FOLKSBIENE YIDDISH THEATRE CROSS-BREEDS BROADWAY AND YIDDISH IN BENEFIT CONCERT KICKING OFF RESIDENCY AT BARUCH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

In what is likely to be one of the most eclectic entertainment line-ups of the season, the Broadway actresses Tovah Feldshuh ("Irena’s Vow"), Tsidii (Tony nominee for originating the role of Rafiki in "The Lion King"), Charlotte Cohn (Baz Luhrmann’s "La Bohème" on Broadway), and Jana Robbins ("Tale of the Allergist’s Wife") will appear on stage together in an unprecedented evening of theatre and music on Wednesday October 21, at 7:30pm, at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue. Staged by and benefitting the National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene, the unusual concert, "A Broadway Yiddish Cabaret," will draw attention to the unique and often overlooked intersections between the Great White Way and the rich traditions of the Yiddish stage.

The one-night-only concert, under the musical direction of the internationally-known Yiddish music expert Zalmen Mlotek, also features the klezmer rap phenomenon Socalled, Folksbiene rising star Daniella Rabbani ("Gimpl Tam"), and Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys. The evening honors the real estate executives Seena Stein and Neil Goldmacher (both of Newmark Knight Frank), and the Barcan Pincus family for their multi-generational contributions to Yiddish culture. Receiving special awards will be CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein (the Public Education and Heritage Award, recognizing the chancellor’s "superb stewardship of City University and his avid promotion of Jewish culture"), and Dr. Barnett Zumoff (a Lifetime Achievement Award "for his enduring dedication to the National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene").

With this concert, the Drama Desk Award-winning Folksbiene, which this fall is embarking on its historic 95th consecutive season, kicks off its new residency at Baruch, where, beginning November 8 it will present the New York premiere of "Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears," a play with music, written by and starring the legendary actor and folksinger Theodore Bikel. Based on the words and stories of Sholom Aleichem, the beloved Yiddish writer who is often referred to as the Jewish Mark Twain, the show plays for five weeks through December 13.

Folksbiene, America's sole-surviving professional Yiddish theatre, maintains a year-round schedule featuring an array of music, literary and theatrical events. Through its many accommodations for non-Yiddish speakers, the company has made impressive strides at broadening and diversifying its audience. It simultaneously draws on the rich legacy of the Yiddish theatre -- dating back to the 1870's in Europe through its heyday in New York -- as well as developing new work, in English and Yiddish, to add to this legacy.

The 7:30pm show is preceded by dinner beginning at 6pm. For tickets, which range from $300 to $500, call Folksbiene at 212/213-2120, ext. 203.