Soul Doctor: rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Musical

Soul Doctor, a new bio musical about rabbi Shlomo Carlebach will open at the New York Theatre Workshop on 13 Aug 2012, following previews from 30 Jul 2012, and close on 19 Aug 2012.

Written and directed by Daniel Wise and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, the show features music by Carlebach, lyrics by David Schechter, with additional music and arrangements by Nina Simone.

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 show will star Eric Anderson (of Broadway's South Pacific) as 'Shlomo Carlebach' and Erica Ash (Broadway's Lion King; Baby It's You, "Mad TV") as 'Nina Simome.'

The cast also includes Meredith Kaye Clarke (Elphaba, in 'Wicked'), Ryan Strand ('Jersey Boys,' 'Frankie u/s), Kenny Morris, Rachel Stern, Dionne Figgins, Ryan Duncan and Julia Osborne.

The creative team includes lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Clive Goodwin, musical arrangements by Steve Margoshes and musical direction by Seth Farber.

Producers Jeremy Chess, Joel Kahn, Jerome Levy, Edward L. Steinberg, Robert Beckwitt and Alan Zimbard will present this limited 3 week engagement of Soul Doctor, a guest-production at New York Theatre Workshop. The musical has had pre-New York engagements in South Florida and New Orleans.