''Yentl'' is a play by Leah Napolin and

Isaac Bashevis Singer Isaac Bashevis Singer ( yi, יצחק באַשעװיס זינגער; November 11, 1903 – July 24, 1991) was a Polish-born American Jewish writer who wrote and published first in Yiddish and later translated himself into English with the help ...

. Based on Singer's short story "Yentl the

Yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy a ...

Boy," it centers on a young woman who defies tradition by discussing and debating

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

law and

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

with her

rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as '' semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form o ...

father. When he dies, she cuts her hair, dresses as a man, and sets out to find a

yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy a ...

where she can continue to study

Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...

and live secretly as a male named Anshel. When her study partner Avigdor discovers the truth, she is conflicted about pursuing a relationship with him because it will compromise her higher calling. The play focuses on the spiritual equality of women in a segregated Jewish society that does not see women as equals to men, but at the same time prioritizes religion and relationship to God above all else. More generally, the play's conflict is between one's need for self-actualization and the demands of society as well as one's baser desires. After eleven previews, the

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

production, directed by

Robert Kalfin Robert Zangwill Kalfin (April 22, 1933 – September 20, 2022) was an American stage director and producer who has worked on and off Broadway and at regional theaters throughout the country. He was a former artistic director of the Cincinnati Pl ...

, opened on October 23, 1975 at the

Eugene O'Neill Theatre The Eugene O'Neill Theatre, previously the Forrest Theatre and the Coronet Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 230 West 49th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and ...

, where it ran for 223 performances. The cast included

Tovah Feldshuh Terri Sue "Tovah" Feldshuh (born December 27, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and playwright. She has been a Broadway star for more than four decades, earning four Tony Award nominations. She has also received two Emmy Award nominations f ...

, John Shea, and Lynn Ann Leveridge.

Production

''Yentl'' first premiered at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on October 15, 1975, running for 223 performances under the direction of Robert Kalfin, concluding on May 2, 1976. It was produced by Cheryl Crawford, Moe Septee, and associate producer Paul B. Berkowsky. Scenic design was by Karl Eigsti, with costumes designed by Carrie F. Robbins, lighting designed by William Mintzer, hair design by Patrick Moreton. The general manager was Paul B. Berkowsky, the company manager was Gino Giglio, the production stage manager was Clint Jakeman, the stage manager was Richard Manheim, and the general press representative was Betty Lee Hunt.

Cast

Hy Anzell Hy Anzell (September 7, 1923 – August 23, 2003) was a Yiddish-speaking American actor. He originated the role of the flower shop owner, "Mr. Mushnik", in the original off-Broadway production of '' Little Shop of Horrors'' with Ellen Gree ...

– Mordecai / Feitl * Herman O. Arbeit – Treitl / Reb Alter * Mary Ellen Ashley – Rivka / Necheleh / Chambermaid * Robin Bartlett – Raizeleh / Avram * Stephen dePietri – Shmuel / Zisheh / Dr. Chanina / Musician * Blanche Dee – Pesheh * David Eric – Moishe / Gershon / Musician *

– Yentl * Elaine Grollman – Ziateh *

Rita Karin Rita Karin (born Rita Karpinowicz; October 24, 1919 – September 10, 1993) was a Polish-born American actress best known for her role as Jackie Mason's mother on the 1989 TV series ''Chicken Soup''. She also appeared as Meryl Streep's Bro ...

– Yachna * Lynn Ann Leveridge – Hadass * Leland Moss – Lemmel / Yussel / Wedding Jester / Dr. Solomon / Mohel / Musician * Albert M Ottenheimer – Nehemiah / The Rabbi / Sheftel * Bernie Passeltiner – Reb Todrus / Laibish / The Cantor / Messenger / Musician * Natalie Priest – Frumka * Reuben Schafer – Reb Nata / The Shamus / Zelig * Madeline Shaw – Zelda-Leah / Shimmel * John V. Shea – Avigdor * Michael James Strafford – Dovid / Yitzhok / Musician * Diane Tarleton – Finki / Berel

Screen adaptation

As early as 1968,

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

had expressed interest in a film adaptation of Singer's short story. Using the Napolin/Singer play as her source material, she wrote a detailed forty-two page treatment, the first to conceive of the movie version as a musical. The resulting 1983 production veered dramatically from the original short story and play by allowing Yentl to reveal her true feelings for Avigdor and having her return to her female self and sail for the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

at the end. The film received a scathing review from Singer, who was particularly taken aback by Streisand's monopolization of the production to its detriment: The film was well received by others, however, including reviewers at ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and event (philosophy), events that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various me ...

'', ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' and ''

Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...

''. Box office receipts were also healthy, both domestically and internationally, and the film was ranked 19th in the year's moneymakers. At awards time, Streisand was snubbed at the Oscars, but the film itself received five statuettes, notably winning for Best Original Music Score. ''Yentl'' won two

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

s for Best Director and Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy).

Awards and nominations

References

Bibliography

* Napoleon, Davi. '' Chelsea on the Edge: The Adventures of an American Theater.'' Includes a chapter on ''Yentl,'' the story, the play, and the movie. The dramatic chapter goes into detail about several controversies between strong individuals—Isaac B Singer and Kalfin, Kalfin and Feldshuh, Singer and Streisand, and Kalfin and Streisand. It also includes descriptions of the play and movie. Iowa State University Press. , 1991.

External links

* * *
Yentl - 15 Years

{{Isaac Bashevis Singer 1975 plays Broadway plays Jewish American plays LGBT-related plays Yiddish words and phrases Plays based on short fiction American plays adapted into films Plays set in Poland Fiction set in 1873 Works by Isaac Bashevis Singer Fictional Jewish women Fictional cross-dressers Cross-dressing in literature