A look at how Jewish writers, composers, and producers shaped Broadway from Yiddish theater roots to the Great American Songbook and beyond.
Jewish creators have shaped Broadway profoundly, winning 55% of Tony Awards for best book and 97% of productions featuring Jewish writers or composers. From Yiddish theater on Second Avenue to Times Square's brightest stages, generations of talent transformed an art form that continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
Jewish creators have profoundly shaped Broadway, winning 55% of Tony Awards for best book and 60% of Tony Awards for best musicals. Additionally, 97% of productions featuring Jewish writers or composers have received recognition at the awards. The story of Jewish involvement in Broadway began on New York's Second Avenue with Yiddish theater, a vibrant world of music, comedy and drama that served as a training ground for generations of Jewish writers, actors, composers and producers.
Among the most influential Jewish creators who helped shape Broadway and the Great American Songbook were Richard Rodgers, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim, Joseph Stein, Marvin Hamlisch, and Hal Prince. From Yiddish theater on Second Avenue to Times Square's brightest stages, these generations of talent transformed an art form that continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
Jewish creators have won 60% of the Tony Awards for best musicals.
The story began on New York's Second Avenue with Yiddish theater, a vibrant world of music, comedy and drama that served as a training ground for generations of Jewish writers, actors, composers and producers.
Richard Rodgers, Gershwin, Berlin, Kern, Sondheim, Stein, Hamlisch, and Prince were among the Jewish creators who helped write the Great American Songbook and shape Broadway.
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