Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Musical Closes On Broadway After Brief Run

Soul Doctor came to Broadway following engagements in New Orleans and Florida. It began Broadway previews July 17 and officially opened Aug. 15. On closing, Soul Doctor will have played 32 previews and 66 regular performances.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

Playbill reports:

The Doctor Is Out: Shlomo Carlebach Musical Soul Doctor Closes on Broadway Oct. 13

Soul Doctor, the new musical about the life of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach that arrived on Broadway in July, ends its run Oct. 13 at the Circle in the Square.

The musical, which came to Broadway following engagements in New Orleans, Florida and as a guest run at the New York Theatre Workshop last season, began Broadway previews July 17 and officially opened Aug. 15. Upon closing, Soul Doctor will have played 32 previews and 66 regular performances.

The musical was met with a cool response from New York critics.…[and t]he production struggled at the box office the past several months…

Comments

[RWisler]

Did it include the scenes and musical numbers where Carlbach sexually harassed his young female disciples?

[rebitzman - $101 to read my posts]

I had my doubts as to the success of a musical where 90% of the lyrics are "Yai, Yai, Yai Yai......"

[Reese]

Depsite non stop promotion of this play, who did they think would come to see it? Right wing orthodox Jews don't go to the theater. Tourists from the midwest and from europe don't want to see a Jew and Black woman dance around. It's amazing they lasted on Broadway as long as they did.

[Broadway Ali]

Maybe they should have called it "Springtime for Schnitzler."

[old time brooklyn]

I worked a lot with him in the 80's - hey the guys in the negina orchestra chased skirts as well

[ruthie]

reese,

i agree.

does anyone know who funded this?

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

Reese, there were similar concerns when Fiddler on the Roof came out on Bway. There was an interview on PBS with the original writers, songwriters, and director. It took a lot of effort to write a great play, with songs that could have universal appeal, etc. and attract an audience of all kinds of people.
Good writing, good songs, and good producing and directing are essential for a hit, and even then you can't always predict what might flop.
Shitty writing, crappy songs, and a story without much appeal = Soul Doctor.

[Jeff]

I suggested my friends the MO rabbi and rebbetzen see it when they're in NYC; they were old followers of Shlomo. The rabbi's attitude was, "I had the real Shlomo; why do I need to see the imitation?"