Dave’s Gone By #726 (12/31/2019): DAVERHOOD NEW YEAR – HELLO 2020!

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Click above to listen to the episode.

Here is the 726th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By–our annual New Year’s Special–which aired live, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. More info: davesgoneby.com.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz

Guests: Dave’s wife Joyce, Dave’s aunt Bonnie Pinkow, Dave’s aunt Esther Brower, Brian Gari, Lisa Arata, Fred Cleaver & Wendy Highby, Stephen Fisch, Ozer Teitelbaum.
Featuring: Our annual New Year’s Eve celebration featuring call-ins, 2019 Farewells, New Year’s Limericks of the Damned.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:04:00 GUEST: Ozer Teitelbaum
00:15:00 GUEST Bonnie Pinkow
00:23:00 GUEST: Stephen Fisch
00:38:00 GUEST: Lisa Arata
00:50:00 GUEST: Brian Gari
01:10:30 NEW YEAR’S LIMERICKS OF THE DAMNED
01:15:30 2019 FAREWELLS, part 1
01:25:30 GUEST: Esther Brower
01:34:00 GUESTS: Wendy Highby & Fred Cleaver
01:48:00 2019 FAREWELLS, part 2
01:57:00 POTATO COUNTDOWN
02:04:00 TODAY YESTERDAY – Dec. 31
02:18:00 Friends of the Daverhood
02:22:00 DAVE GOES OUT

Dec. 31, 2019 Playlist: “Auld Lang Syne” (Flatulina). 

Ozer Teitelbaum
Lisa Arata
Fred Cleaver & Wendy Highby
Stephen Fisch
Brian Gari
Esther Brower

Dave’s Gone By #703 (7/6/2019): PASCAL LAMB

Click above to watch in-studio footage of the entire episode.
Click above to listen to the episode.

Here is the 703rd episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook, Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz

Guests: actor Adam Pascal, Dave’s wife Joyce

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with actor-singer Adam Pascal, Greeley Crimes & Old Times, Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Cheraw), Today Yesterday (July 6), Dave Says Bye (Richmond Shepard).

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:14:00 DAVE SAYS BYE (Richmond Shepard)
00:47:00 DAVE GOES FURTHER IN w/ Joyce (Joey n’ Miki, tortilla dog)
01:10:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
01:30:30 TODAY YESTERDAY – July 6
01:56:30 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Adam Pascal
02:35:00 INSIDE BROADWAY
03:08:00 Friends of the Daverhood
03:20:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED – Cheraw
03:23.00 DAVE GOES OUT

July 6, 2019 Playlist: “One Song Glory” (01:56:30) & “What I Did for Love” (02:30:30; Adam Pascal), “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (03:30:30; Sly & the Family Stone).

Adam Pascal
Joey Chestnut & MIki Sudo, Mustard Belt Champeens!
Cheraw, CO
Ward Morehouse III
Richmond Shepard

Dave’s Gone By Interview (6/6/2015): RICHMOND SHEPARD

click above to listen (audio only).

Dave Lefkowitz interviews theater critic Richmond Shepard

Topics include: It Shoulda Been You, The Heidi Chronicles

Segment scheduled to air June 6, 2015 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” 11th Annual TotalTheater Tony Special, hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast: Full Episode

All content (c)2015 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By #512 (6/6/2015): THE 11th ANNUAL TOTALTHEATER TONY SHOW

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Here is the 512th episode–our annual Broadway Tony Awards special–of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, June 6, 2015. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Featuring: A look at the 2014-2015 Broadway season and Tony Award nominees with interviews, trivia, showtunes, Broadway 101, a Wretched Pun, and a theatrical Rabbinical Reflection from Rabbi Sol Solomon.
Guests: Entertainer Richard Skipper, Musical Director Richard Shore, spiritual leader Rabbi Sol Solomon, Dave’s wife Joyce, and critics: Leslie (Hoban) Blake (Two on the Aisle), Joe Dziemianowicz (NY Daily News), David Finkle (Huffington Post), Isa Goldberg (Go magazine), Jesse Green (New York Magazine), Charles Gross (Two on the Aisle), Eva Heinemann (Hi! Drama), Michall Jeffers (TotalTheater.com), Brian Scott Lipton (In New York magazine), Andy McGibbon (TheAndyGram.com), Ellis Nassour (Broadwaystars.com), Michael Portantiere (Broadwaystars.com), Richmond Shepard (TotalTheater.com), Elisabeth Vincentelli (New York Post).

00:00:01 Pre-show Warmup (excerpt) w/ Joyce
00:04:00 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce
00:11:00 BROADWAY STATS
00:13:00 GUEST: Ellis Nassour
00:28:00 TRIVIA 1 w/ Ellis Nassour
00:43:30 Sponsors
00:46:00 GUEST: Michall Jeffers
01:05:00 BROADWAY 101 – Part 1
01:24:00 GUEST: Jesse Green
01:36:00 BROADWAY 101 – Part 2
01:42:00 GUEST: David Finkle
01:54:00 TRIVIA 2
01:57:00 BROADWAY 101 – Part 3
02:05:30 Sponsors
02:09:00 BROADWAY 101 – Part 4
02:16:30 GUEST: Isa Goldberg
02:28:30 TRIVIA 3
02:32:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 5
02:41:30 GUEST: Andy McGibbon
02:55:00 THE WRETCHED PUN OF DESTINY #39 – Soprano
02:57:00 GUEST: Richmond Shepard
03:07:00 BROADWAY 101 – Part 6
03:20:00 GUEST: Elisabeth Vincentelli
03:29:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 7
03:33:30 GUEST: Joe Dziemianowicz
03:46:30 RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #126 – 2015 Tony Nominees
03:54:30 GUEST: Michael Portantiere
04:06:00 DAVE GOES FURTHER IN w/ Joyce
04:10:00 BROADWAY 101 – Part 8
04:22:00 GUEST: Charles Gross
04:34:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 9
04:46:30 GUEST: Richard Skipper
05:05:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 10
05:10:00 GUEST: Brian Scott Lipton
05:20:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 11
05:22:30 GUEST: Richard Shore
05:27:30 NAME THAT (SHOW)TUNE w/ Richard Shore
05:46:30 The Miracle of Long Johns
05:56:00 GUEST: Leslie (Hoban) Blake
06:08:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 12
06:19:30 OTHER AWARDS
06:23:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 13
06:35:30 GUEST: Eva Heinemann
06:46:00 TRIVIA 4
06:48:30 BROADWAY 101 – Part 14
06:58:00 NEXT SEASON
07:03:00 Sponsors & Thanks w/ Joyce
07:25:30 DAVE GOES OUT

June 6, 2015 Playlist: “Overture” (00:04:00), “When You Say Vegas” (02:38:00) & “You Made the Wait Worthwhile” (07:28:30; Honeymoon in Vegas 2014 Bway cast). “Foolish to Think” (00:59:00; A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder 2014 Broadway cast w/ Bryce Pinkham). “Holler if Ya Hear Me” (01:08:00; Holler if Ya Hear Me 2014 Bway cast w/ Saul Williams). “Lucky to Be Me” (01:21:00; On the Town 2014 Bway cast w/ Tony Yazbeck. “Underground River” (01:39:30; The Last Ship 2014 Bway cast w/ Jimmy Nail). “Who Will Love Me as I Am?” (Side Show 2014 Bway cast w/ Erin Davie & Emily Padgett). “Get Ready” (02:15:00; The Temptations). “I’d Do it Again” (02:50:30; Baker Street (1965 Bway cast w/ Inga Swensen). “I’ve Got it All” (03:15:30; On the Twentieth Century 1978 Bway cast w/ Madeline Kahn & John Cullum). Wendy Wasserstein interview clip (03:32:00). “May Your Heart Stay Young” (03:40:30; The Zulu and the Zayda 1965 Bway cast w/ Menasha Skulnick). Hand to God excerpt (2015 Bway cast). “Gigi” (04:32:00; Gigi 2015 Bway cast). “I Got Rhythm” (04:41:30; An American in Paris 2015 Bway cast). It Shoulda Been You excerpts (05:07:30). Finding Neverland excerpt (05:19:00). “Something Wonderful” (06:06:30; The King and I 2015 Bway cast w/ Ruthie Ann Miles). “Ring of Keys” (06:15:30; Fun Home 2015 Bway cast w/ Sydney Lucas). “Lara Says Goodbye to Yuri” (“Dr. Zhivago” 1965 soundtrack by Maurice Jarre). “Welcome to the Renaissance” (06:32:00; Something Rotten! 2015 Bway cast). “Love and Love Alone” (06:52:00; The Visit w/ promo w/ Chita Rivera).

Ellis Nassour
Michall Jeffers
Leslie (Hoban) Blake
Jesse Green
David Finkle
Isa Goldberg
Andrew McGibbon
Richmond Shepard
Elisabeth Vincentelli
Charles Gross
Richard Skipper
Richard Shore
Eva Heinemann
Joe Dziemianowicz
Michael Portantiere
Brian Scott Lipton
Rabbi Sol Solomon

Dave’s Gone By Interview (6/7/2014): RICHMOND SHEPARD

click above to listen (audio only)

Dave Lefkowitz interviews theater critic Richmond Shepard

Topics include: Tony Awards, Leading Actress in a Play, Audra McDonald, Cherry Jones, The Glass Menagerie, Rocky.

Segment aired June 7, 2014 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” 10th Anniversary TotalTheater Tony Special, hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2014 TotalTheater Productions.

Dave’s Gone By #471 (6/7/2014): THE 10th ANNUAL TOTALTHEATER TONY SHOW

click above to listen to the episode (audio only)

Here is the 471st episode–our annual Broadway theater special–of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, June 7, 2014. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Featuring: A look at the 2013-2014 Broadway season and Tony Award nominees with interviews, trivia, showtunes, Broadway 101 and a theatrical Rabbinical Reflection from Rabbi Sol Solomon.
Guests: UNC Radio Programming Director Matthew Davis, Dave’s wife Joyce Weil and critics: Leslie (Hoban) Blake (Two on the Aisle), Joe Dziemianowicz (NY Daily News), David Finkle (Huffington Post), Rosalind Friedman (The Theater Circuit), Isa Goldberg (President of the Drama Desk), Jesse Green (New York Magazine), Charles Gross (Two on the Aisle), Eva Heinemann (Hi! Drama), Michall Jeffers (TotalTheater.com), Leonard Jacobs (The Clyde Fitch Report), Brian Scott Lipton (Cititour.com), Andy McGibbon (TheAndyGram.com), Ed Rubin (Artes Magazine), Richmond Shepard (TotalTheater.com), David Sheward (Critics Choice Tours), Rabbi Sol Solomon, Elisabeth Vincentelli (New York Post), Matt Windman (AM New York).

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:06:00 GUEST: Matthew Davis
00:12:30 GUEST: Charles Gross
00:23:30 Broadway Stats
00:27:30 Broadway 101 – Part 1 (Last Season)
00:33:30 Broadway 101 – Part 2 (Summer 2013)
00:48:30 Elisabeth Vincentelli
01:04:00 Trivia Question 1
01:07:00 GUEST: Leslie (Hoban) Blake
01:17:00 Broadway 101 – Part 3 (Early Fall 2013)
01:29:00 GUEST: David Sheward
01:38:30 Giveaway I – CD
01:42:00 GUEST: David Finkle
01:58:30 Broadway 101 – Part 4 (Fall 2013)
02:11:00 GUEST: Joe Dziemianowicz
02:22:30 Other Awards
02:27:00 Trivia Question 2
02:30:00 GUEST: Michael Portantiere
02:39:00 Broadway 101 – Part 5 (Mid-Fall 2013)
02:58:00 GUEST: Brian Scott Lipton
03:14:30 GUEST: Michall Jeffers
03:25:00 Broadway 101 – Part 6 (Late Fall 2013)
03:38:30 GUEST: Andy McGibbon
03:55:00 A bit of a Break with Joyce Weil
04:02:00 Broadway 101 – Part 7 (Early Winter 2014)
04:13:00 Trivia Question 3
04:21:30 Broadway 101 – Part 7 (Winter 2014)
04:45:00 GUEST: Jesse Green
04:58:00 GUEST: Leonard Jacobs
05:12:00 Giveaway II – Performing Arts Insider
05:17:30 RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #102 – Tonys 2014
05:24:30 GUEST: Ed Rubin
05:38:30 Trivia Question 4
05:44:30 GUEST: Rosalind Friedman
05:53:30 GUEST: Eva Heinemann
06:04:30 GUEST: Isa Goldberg
06:19:00 GUEST: Matt Windman
06:32:30 GUEST: Richmond Shepard
06:43:00 Trivia Question 5
06:45:00 Thank You
06:50:30 DAVE GOES OUT

June 7, 2014 Playlist: “The Soul of a Man” (00:29:30; Kinky Boots 2013 Bway cast w/ Stark Sands). “El Choclo” (Forever Tango 1998 Bway cast). “In My Life” (00:35:30; The Beatles). “First Impressions” ({demo version}; 00:41:00 w/ Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez). “Hashmi’ini” (00:43:30; Shlomo Carlebach). “I Don’t Need a Roof” (01:25:00; Big Fish 2013 Bway cast). “Piece of My Heart” (02:00:30; A Night with Janis Joplin w/ Mary Bridget Davies). “The Snow Geese” (promo) (02:09:30; The Snow Geese 2013 Bway cast) w/ Mary Louise Parker). “Laura Benanti Explains the Broadway Plays” (02:21:00) & “Laura Benanti Explains the Broadway Musicals (05:43:00; Laura Benanti). “Stormy Weather” (02:44:30; Etta James). “Who Can I Turn To?” (02:47:30; Il Divo). “I Don’t Understand the Poor” (03:10:30; A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder 2013 Bway cast w/ Jefferson Mays). “Soliloquy” (excerpt) (03:29:00; Macbeth 2013 Bway cast w/ Ethan Hawke). “No Man’s Land/Waiting for Godot” Promo (2013 Bway cast w/ Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen). “The Genius on Cleveland Street” (03:35:00; A Christmas Story the Musical 2012 Bway cast w/ John Bolton). “It Might as Well Rain Until September” (03:53:30; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical w/ Jessie Mueller). (04:06:30; Outside Mullingar 2014 Bway cast w/ Debra Messing & Brian F. O’Byrne). “Bronx Bombers” Advertisement (04:12:00; Bronx Bombers 2014 Bway production). “Wondering” (04:27:00) & “Always Better” (06:51:00; The Bridges of Madison County (w/ Steven Pasquale & Kelli O’Hara). “All the Way” Promo (04:33:30; All the Way 2014 Bway cast w/ Bryan Cranston). “My Nose Ain’t Broken” (04:41:00; Rocky 2014 Bway cast w/ Andy Karl). “Proud of Your Boy” (demo) (04:53:30; Alan Menken). “Here I Go” (06:15:00; If/Then 2014 Bway cast w/ Idina Menzel). “Midnight Radio” (06:29:00; Hedwig and the Angry Inch 2007 Australian cast w/ Blazey Best).

Leslie (Hoban) Blake
Matthew Davis
Joe Dziemianowicz
David Finkle
Rosalind Friedman
Isa Goldberg
Jesse Green
Charles Gross
Eva Heinemann
Leonard Jacobs
Michall Jeffers
Brian Scott Lipton
Andy McGibbon
Michael Portantiere
Ed Rubin
David Sheward
Elizabeth Vincentelli
Matthew Windman
Rabbi Sol Solomon
Dave & Matthew Davis
Dave

Dave’s Gone By Interview (6/8/2013): RICHMOND SHEPARD

click above to listen (audio only)

Dave Lefkowitz interviews actor-director Richmond Shepard

Topics include: Tony Awards, Featured actress in a musical

Segment originally aired June 8, 2013, as part of the Tony Awards special edition of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2013 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By #426 (6/8/2013): THE 9th ANNUAL TOTALTHEATER TONY SHOW

click above to listen to the episode (audio only).

Here is the 426th episode–our annual Broadway theater-related special–of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, June 8, 2013. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz

Dave celebrates Broadway and the Tony Awards with theater experts and lots of showtunes. Featuring actor/director and UNC Professor Ken Womble. plus theater critics Leslie (Hoban) Blake (“Two on the Aisle”), Donald Collester (Journal America and WDVR-FM), Joe Dziemianowicz (NY Daily News), Isa Goldberg (Drama Desk president), Eva Heinemann (“Hi! Drama”), Brian Scott Lipton (TheaterMania.com), Michael Portantiere (Broadwaystars.com), Ed Rubin (TotalTheater.com), Simon Saltzman (Outer Critics Circle President), Elisabeth Vincentelli (NY Post), Matt Windman (AM-NY), playwright Jeffrey Sweet, former theater owner Richmond Shepard and writer-performer Rabbi Sol Solomon.

00:00:01 Pre-show
00:03:00 DAVE GOES IN
00:05:30 GUEST: Joe Dziemianowicz
00:18:30 GUEST: Ken Womble
00:48:30 GUEST: Richmond Shepard
01:04:30 GUEST: Leslie (Hoban) Blake
01:19:30 Sponsors
01:22:00 GUEST: Brian Scott Lipton
01:34:00 GUEST: Simon Saltzman
01:51:30 GUEST: Isa Goldberg
02:08:00 GUEST: Donald Collester
02:25:30 RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #69: Tonys 2013
02:32:00 GUEST: Eva Heinemann
02:40:30 GUEST: Jeffrey Sweet
02:57:00 Pop Segue
03:10:30 GUEST: Elisabeth Vincentelli
03:25:00 Trivia
03:28:30 GUEST: Matt Windman
03:43:30 GUEST: Michael Portantiere
03:57:00 Sponsors
04:00:00 Trivia
04:03:30 GUEST: Ed Rubin
04:17:30 Friends & Thanks
04:29:30 DAVE GOES OUT

June 8, 2013 Playlist: “Enjoy the Trip” (00:15:30; Bring it On, 2012 Broadway cast). “In My Own Little Corner” (00:45:30) & “Exit Music – Cinderella March” (04:30:00; Cinderella, 2013 Broadway cast w/ Laura Osnes). “No Time at All” (00:57:00) & “Corner of the Sky” (02:19:30; Pippin, 2013 Broadway cast w/ Andrea Martin & Matthew James Thomas). “Entr’acte” (00:03:00), “Naughty” (01:15:00) & “Loud” (03:21:30; Matilda, 2011 London cast). Gold” (01:32:00; Once, 2011 Broadway cast w/ Steve Kazee). “Price & Son Theme / The Most Beautiful Thing in the World” (01:45:30; Kinky Boots 2013 Broadway cast w/ Stark Sands). “Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead” (02:05:00; The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 2012 Broadway cast). (02:19:30). “Sabbath Prayer” (02:31:00, Fiddler on the Roof, 1964 Broadway cast). “A Beautiful Morning” (02:58:00; The Rascals). “I Wish it Would Rain” (03:00:00; The Temptations). “This One’s for You” (03:03:00; Barry Manilow). “When You’re a Wimp” (03:40:30; A Christmas Story, 2012 Broadway cast). “Life Can be Like the Movies” (03:54:30; Chaplin, 2012 Broadway cast w/ Rob McClure). “Once Upon a Dream” (04:14:30; Jekyll & Hyde, Broadway cast w/ Teal Wicks).

Leslie (Hoban) Blake
Don Collester
Joe Dziemianowicz
Isa Goldberg
Eva Heinemann
Brian Scott Lipton
Michael Portantiere
Ed Rubin
Simon Saltzman
Richmond Shepard
Rabbi Sol Solomon
Jeffrey Sweet
Elisabeth Vincentelli
Matt Windman
Ken Womble
host Dave Lefkowitz

Dave’s Gone By Interview (6/9/2012): RICHMOND SHEPARD

click above to listen (audio only)

Dave Lefkowitz (joined in-studio by University of Northern Colorado musical director Richard Shore) chats with theater critic and producer Richmond Shepard.

Topics include: 2012 Tony Award nominations, theater criticism, Broadway, theater, Captain Crash versus the Zzorgwomen.

Segment originally aired June 9, 2012 on the annual Tony Awards Special of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Note: Interview segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2012 TotalTheater Productions.

Dave’s Gone By Skit: RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #39 (3/25/2012): Rave Review!

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RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #39 (3/25/2012): Rave Review!

Aired March 24, on Dave’s Gone By. Youtube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AONO3DfOp1k&t=141s

Shalom Dammit! This is Rabbi Sol Solomon with a Rabbinical Reflection for the week of March 25th, 2012.

Well, I am back in Colorado after doing my big, whopping, $1.98 off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway show: Shalom Dammit! An Evening with Me, Rabbi Sol Solomon.  We did five performances at the Richmond Shepard Theater, a playhouse so off the beaten path, the Bermuda Triangle goes there to vacation.

But somehow, people made it to the theater on East 26th Street.  They came to see me talk about Jewish life, religion, the middle east, assimilation, the Holocaust and other hilarious topics for a night at the theater.  My musical director, Richard Shore, and I, had a marvelous time rehearsing, playing, cutting, trimming, making the best show we possibly could for the least amount of money we could possibly get away with.

Well, my friends, there is no accounting for taste, which is why I am shocked but delighted to say that Shalom Dammit! the stage show received its first review – and it’s a rave!  And not like one of those raves where teenagers lick yellow decals and then start shtupping the walls – no! Our show in New York got a review so good, I’d like to cover it with sour cream and eat it with a soup spoon.

It’s by Elizabeth Ahlfors, of CityCabaret.com, and it’s published on TotalTheater.com.  Now: full disclosure – Dave Lefkowitz, the host of this show, also works for TotalTheater.com and he edits the writing of Elizabeth Ahlfors for publication. Their dealings are purely professional, so apart from some bribery money changing hands, her review is absolutely heartfelt and legitimate. Which is more than I can say for my show.

If you don’t believe me, read the full review of Shalom Dammit! at TotalTheater.  In it she says things like – and I quote – “A comedy, a passionate sermon, a witty diatribe, a musical. It’s all of the above – in full-volume yelling.”  Me?  Yelling?  She must have me confused with . . . every other middle-class Jewish man in the world.

Ms. Ahlfors also says about me that I’m “ebullient, angry (because why shouldn’t I be?), opinionated, outspoken, supremely self-confident and hilarious!”  No one’s called me hilarious since that time I farted on the bimah during Yom Kippur.  And let’s face it, that’s an easy gag for a captive audience.

She closes her big review with the best line of all: “Shalom Dammit!, with all its fervor and fury, is a good time.”  That’s a money review, ladies and gentleman.  And I paid good money for it.

So now we shall see the next step in the commercial path of Shalom Dammit!.  We may come back in April and do a couple more shows.  We may hit a fringe festival or two . . . because my tallis has award-winning fringes.  Or who knows?  We may play the occasional Jewish center, nursing home or women’s prison.

If you saw Shalom Dammit! in New York and you agree with this review, do your part!  Tell family and friends and people you no longer want to be your friends that you can’t wait to see Shalom Dammit! in your bedraggled town or village.  You must know people with money – you’re Jewish!  Tell them a couple of hundred dollars they can be investors and gain the satisfaction of knowing they’ll never see that money again, but they’ll have helped spread yiddishkeit, love and possibly herpes to theatergoers all over America.

My thanks go out to Elizabeth Ahlfors, the brilliant, insightful critic; to Richard Shore, to Richmond Shepard, to Bill the stage manager and Jeff the box-office boychick, and to everyone who visited the Richmond Shepard Theater to partake in Shalom Dammit! the show.

Not to paraphrase Hitler but: today East 26th Street, tomorrow West 26th Street!

This has been a Rabbinical Reflection from Rabbi Sol Solomon, Temple Sons of Bitches and off-off-Broadway hit!

Note: here is the review: http://www.totaltheater.com/?q=node/4470

 (c) 2012 TotalTheater. All rights reserved.