Avi Hoffman stars in this serio/comic musical follows the life and times of the poet Itzik Manger, considered one of the greatest Yiddish poets. Through his songs and poems we discover the joy and anguish of a Yiddish poet, who lives through the best and worst of times.
Reviews
Hoffman shines – N.Y. Post
Integrity… Laughter… Passion… Oy, Bravo! – The Village Voice
A masterful performance – A tour de force… – Jewish Press
Quite moving… Truly touching… – New York Newsday
Effective in it’s simplicity… The perfect vehicle… Your heart gets snatched between a twinkle and a tear. – New York Law Journal
A rewarding evening of theater… – The Forward
Mr. Hoffman brings a Bacchic exuberance… – New York Times
Strong anecdotes and a charming performance. – Variety
Solid entertainment…Avi Hoffman gives a multi-faceted performance, capturing all the character nuances…He suffuses his reading with an understanding of both the man and the poet… – Backstage Magazine
Itzik Manger bio
Considered one of the greatest and most prolific of Yiddish poets, Itzik Manger was born in 1901 in Czernowitz, Rumania he died in 1969 in Israel. In 1921 Manger published his first poem BALLAD OF A STREETWALKER. In the 1930’s Manger wrote the lyrics for the Warsaw musical production of Sholem Aleichem’s novel – WANDERING STARS as well as the lyrics for the first Yiddish film musical YIDDLE WITH HIS FIDDLE starring Molly Picon. His unusual popularity as a poet brought him the opportunity to write for several Yiddish theater productions in Warsaw in the 1930’s. Manger’s best known series of poems for the theater, SONGS FROM THE BOOK OF ESTHER, was staged 30 years later on Broadway as THE MEGILLAH OF ITZIK MANGER. His biblical poetry also served as the basis for the hit musical SONGS OF PARADISE, produced by Joseph Papp at the NY Shakespeare Festival. Manger’s place in the cultural history of the Jews was recognized by Golda Meir in 1969, with the first annual Manger Prize for Yiddish Literature. Manger’s work is included in the UNESCO Anthology of World Poetry, The Treasure of Yiddish Stories and The Treasure of Yiddish Poetry.