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SO WHAT'S THE SHOW LIKE, REALLY?

In the words of its creators

a white dim sum box with a thank you and enjoy with a picture of Yelena Shmulenson, Steve Steiner and Allen Lewis Richman

"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.”  

Steve Steiner, smiles in a orange bow-tie, in a shot from The Essense an off-broadway Yiddish musical comedy
Steve Steiner stares at Yelena  Shmulenson with Allen Lewis Rickman all in comic faces from The Essense - the off-broadway Yiddish drama and musical comedy

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”. 

Steve Steiner stares out in a crown, in the middle Yelena  Shmulenson with Allen Lewis Rickman all in comic faces from The Essense - the off-broadway Yiddish drama and musical comedy
Steve Steiner Steve Steiner, in a orange bowtie and boller hat and  Allen Lewis Rickman all in comic faces from The Essense - the off-broadway Yiddish drama and musical comedy

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.

Steve Steiner and Yelena  Shmulenson boxing in a scene fromThe Essense - the off-broadway Yiddish drama and musical comedy

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