SO WHAT'S THE SHOW LIKE, REALLY?
In the words of its creators


"THE ESSENCE is an introduction to Yiddish language and culture designed for people who don't give a rat's ass about Yiddish language and culture."

"It is NOT one of those dopey revues for alte kakers. It’s full of rich, juicy Yiddish -- but our best audiences have been gentile college students.”



The show “tells the entire history of Yiddish theater, from the sublime to the appalling, in 83 New York Minutes”, occasionally interrupted by 'Irrelevant Interludes' about Yiddish editions of the New Testament, or How To Curse In Yiddish.

It was created by Allen Lewis Rickman, Yelena Shmulenson, and Steve Sterner, who describe themselves as being “of the younger generation of Yiddish theater veterans, i.e., not dead yet”.



THE ESSENCE features lots of stories, some funny, some touching, in English, along with music and scenes from the best of Yiddish theater. “Also from the worst”, said Rickman. “The Yiddish stage provided some of the most poetic, stylish, and dynamic theater of the last 150 years. Plus a bunch of garbage. THE ESSENCE gives you a little taste of everything, with translations projected over the actors' heads."

The show has been seen in various New York venues -- including a sold-out run at the NY International Fringe Festival -- along with other venues in the northeast. And it's played to standing ovations in Stockholm and Bucharest.
Now it's coming back home.
