ONCE … and forever

Posted by joanne on May 1, 2012 in theatre, News | 2 comments

with 11 nominations, ONCE leads the pack for the 2012 Tony Awards! 

Jumping for Joy at Once!!

It’s a dream come true… “Once” is certainly one of the most beautiful Broadway shows I’ve ever seen, and I am so grateful to be a part of it!  I have the privilege to understudy the role of Baruška, brilliantly performed by the magnificent Anne L. Nathan.  Come see us at the historic Jacobs Theatre every night – where Grease broke the record for longest running show on Broadway… And best of all, I get to play my accordion with this outrageously talented band of performers.  LUCKY ME!!

Opening night with Anne

The Long Anticipated Return …

Posted by joanne on May 16, 2011 in theatre, News | 0 comments

After many months of radio-silence, I’ve resurfaced in the blogosphere …

… and I’ve got lots and lots to report!

First of all, many apologies to my followers… I’ve been remiss… mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!!  I’ve missed you to pieces…

Next up, I hope everyone will be come see me in The Adventures of Hershele Ostropolyer at The Baruch Performing Arts Center.  The Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre has revived last year’s off Broadway smash hit which stars Mike Burstyn in the title role – and I am thrilled to have joined this wonderful cast!  Visit Dani Marcus’ blog about our adventures backstage!  (beware Hershele, the Vampire Slayer…) Show schedule is on my calendar page with links to websites to buy tickets!

In other news:  Kids & Yiddish 2011 was a huge success way back in February!  We visited schools and community centers around the New York area, and hope to have more opportunities to perform in NYC and beyond!   Follow this link to find out how you can bring Kids & Yiddish to your community!

The Witches of Lublin has been having a wonderful life on NPR stations across the US and Canada!  Many thanks to creators Elizabeth Schwartz, Ellen Kushner and Yale Strom for their incredible tale of magical musicians, and to director Sue Zizza’s vision and efforts to get this beautiful piece On the Air.

Stay tuned… lots of travel, concerts and festivals coming up this Summer… I’ll be looking for you!

Anyway, I promise not to be a stranger… Joanne’ll never go away again!!

Fare thee well, Fiddler…

Posted by joanne on Jul 14, 2010 in theatre, News | 2 comments

Arrivederci Anatevka!

My dear Fellow Fiddler Voyagers…

How do I sum up what has taken 18 months, 40 different cities and 463 performances to experience? We’ve been explorers together, shared hundreds of Sabbaths, and had so many surprising and excellent adventures…

I can’t thank you enough…  I never thought I’d tour again, but it was worth it to have had the chance to work with each of you.  You came into my life at a fascinating time, and we all dove into this journey head-first ~ And when we meet again in NY or Vegas or wherever our paths lead us, we’ll know that we all shared something unique and remarkable.

Now that our wild ride has faced its final curtain, I hope that we will have the opportunity to tell more stories together… perhaps we’ll meet in Glocca Morra?  Or Ancient Greece… or Oz…?  No matter where and when, I’m grateful for this time, and I will miss each and every one of you ~ and this life ~and our little village of Anatevka.

Mazel Tov!  Good luck in all your future endeavors and may we meet only on Happy Occasions!!

L’chaim!!

“It’s a Major Award!!”

Posted by joanne on Jun 20, 2010 in theatre, News | 1 comment

With the "Leg Lamp" in Cleveland!

Can you name that movie?  It was filmed here in Cleveland, Ohio!!

Wow… Fiddler on the Roof is coming in for a landing — One more week here in Cleveland at the Palace Theatre,  then we’re all on to greener pastures… We’ve covered the country back and forth several times, and now we’re here in the mid-west for our last hurrah!!  Huzzah!!!

Our Nachum, the Begger – Rick Passagno – asked a favor of the company.  He’s teaching a Theatre Class for college students, and he asked us to contribute our 2 cents about our experiences on tour.  This produced a little something I’m excited to share.

Click here to read Life-Lessons from the Road!  What started out as a quick reply email turned into a valuable exercise for me… and I hope others might enjoy it as well…

Just a little food for thought!  Buon Appetito!!

Lost in Austin

Posted by joanne on Mar 18, 2010 in theatre, News | 1 comment

with Mark Rubin and Sasha Luminsky at World Famous Threadgill's Diner!

It’s official: Austin is my new favorite city in Texas!!! There, I said it.  I’ve enjoyed the blue bonnets in many a Texas town before ~ Houston, Dallas, Galvaston, San Antonio ~ but Austin has come as a wonderful surprise. I’ve heard tales of the music scene before, but it’s really better when experienced first hand.

Got shanghai’d on Monday by the Austin’s own, unforgettable Mark Rubin ~ dinner at Threadgill’s, two-steppin’ over at the Continental Club, then onto a giant-sized jam session in a mansion near the “J”… I’m still recovering!

Arizona Nights…

Posted by joanne on Mar 12, 2010 in theatre, News | 1 comment

Sunset over Tucson

Tucson is quite simply… magnificent!!

The majestic mountains… the perfect weather. Visiting with good friends during the day and performing Fiddler at night… It’s weeks like this that make touring worthwhile. A thousand thanks to the Dumas Clan for making my visit feel like I was home sweet home! Didn’t get much of a tan, but did enjoy much of Tucson’s nightlife!!