Soul Doctor to close early at off-B'way's Actors Temple
It has been reported that the off-Broadway revival of Soul Doctor, which officially opened at the Actors Temple Theatre on 14 December 2014, following previews from 1 December 2014, has posted early closing notices. It will now play its final performance on 25 January 2015.
The original Broadway production opened at Broadway's Circle in the Square on 15 Aug 2013, following previews from 17 Jul 2013. It also posted early closing notices for 13 Oct 2013, playing 32 previews and 66 regular performances.
The musical originally opened to mixed, but mostly poor reviews: Eric Anderson ... will leave you grinning from ear to ear (NewYorkTheatreGuide.com); Bizarre and at times bewildering (NYT); Terminally earnest and relentlessly sunny (NYDN); A few sublime moments in an otherwise flawed work (NY1).
Soul Doctor tells the story of the beloved yet controversial father of popular Jewish music, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and explores his unlikely friendship with the 'High Priestess of Soul' Nina Simone. Beginning with his childhood escape from Nazi Germany, the show takes us on a musical odyssey through the challenges and triumphs of this cultural phenomenon, as he becomes a rabbinical prodigy in America, discovers Gospel and Soul music during his unlikely friendship with Simone, and has a meteoric rise as a 'Rock Star Rabbi' in the 1960's, performing with Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.
The off-Broadway production stars Josh Nelson as Shlomo Carlebach, Dan'yelle Williamson as Nina Simone, alongside Dianna Barger, Debra Cardona, Jacob Heimer, Anthony Laciura, Don Meehan, Hayden Wall, Lee Hollis Bussie, Rosalie Graziano, Janelle McDermoth, Erin Mosher, John Plumpis, and Jesse Swimm.
Directed by Mindy Cooper, it features music by Shlomo Carlebach, a book by Daniel S. Wise, and lyrics by David Schechter, with additional music and arrangements by Nina Simone.
The creative team features choreography by Benoit-Swan Pouffer, set design by David Goldstein, costumes by Tristan Raines, lighting design by Zach Blane and sound design by Raymond Schilke. It is produced off-Broadway by Jeremy Chess.
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