Introduction to The Jewish Actor in America

Welcome to the Museum of the Yiddish Theatre’s newest exhibition, "The Jewish Actor in America." The Museum, and this exhibition, are the sole creations of its founder and director, Steven Lasky, who is also the artist for all the works that you will see here.

The Museum of the Yiddish Theatre is a tribute to those Jewish actors and actresses who once graced the planks of our Yiddish theatre stages. The museum is a website that was created some years ago to honor and remember the contributions made by those who were connected in some way to the Yiddish theatre, both domestically and abroad.

The portraits that are on display in this exhibition are of actors and actresses who once made their mark not only in the Yiddish theatre, but also on Jewish and American cultural history. Each of them was among the top performers of the Yiddish stage during their illustrious career.

This museum itself is both multimedia and interactive and is filled with a plethora of exhibitions, as well as wonderful, archival treasures, photographs and stories of actors who have as part of this rich profession, entertained Jewish audiences for more than one hundred and thirty years.

“The Jewish Actor in America” contains a series of graphite drawings from the Museum's collection of dozens of works of art, of some of our most famous Yiddish actors and actresses. Those whose portraits are displayed here joyfully entertained their adoring audiences for many decades.

The audio tour that you are listening to now is the first of its kind at the Museum, and we hope you will enjoy it! It will give you a historical perspective of the lives and careers of the featured actors.

Many of the Yiddish actors and actresses who once played in the United States first began their acting careers in Yiddish theatre, sometimes in the States, but other times in other countries, often the country of their birth, and most remained on the Yiddish stage for the entirety of their career. Others, either out of a desire or necessity, at some point crossed over to the American theatre, where they then performed in the English language. Some also crossed over to films, either in the Yiddish or English language or both, while others performed on television or radio.

This audio tour encompasses more than two dozen portraits of Yiddish actors and actresses. You may listen to the audio at each "station," or you may pick and choose which you would like to listen to. We hope that you will enjoy what you see and hear!

Our tour now begins …