Based on Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story “Yentl the Yeshiva Boy” and updated with new music and lyrics by Jill Sobule, “Yentl” tells the story of a young girl in 19th century Eastern Europe forbidden to pursue her dream of studying Talmud. Unwilling to accept her fate, she disguises herself as a man. But when she falls in love, Yentl must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her identity. This marks 40 years since the play — then without music — ran on Broadway. With parallels in Singer’s short story coinciding with the burgeoning second wave of feminism, we find Yentl as an outsider seeking to find her own voice within a very proscribed world. Sobules’ klezmer/rock/folk score underlines the ageless ideas of young love and sexual questioning.”This is a story about the mystery of appearances, the deceptions of the heart, and the divine androgyny of the soul.”
May 12 – June 5
Directed by Edward Coffield
Cast
Yentl – Shanara Gabrielle*
Avigdor – Andrew Michael Neiman*
Hadass – Taylor Steward
Reb Todrus – Terry Meddows*
Various roles
Peggy Billo*
Will Bonfiglio
Paul Cereghino
Amy Loui*
Leo Ramsey
Luke Steingruby
Jennifer Theby Quinn
Luke Steingruby 