Carol Kassie

TO LIFE 5 – Jewish Broadway to Hollywood – January 17 – February 2 at the Willow Theatre

December 9, 2024 2:36 pm

Hy Juter presents
To Life 5:
Jewish Broadway to Hollywood!
Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals
At the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
January 17 – February 2, 2025

“The humor of the blues, as Jerry (Leiber) used to say, was akin to Yiddish humor. Like, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.”” Mike Stoller

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

December 9, 2024

BOCA RATON, FL: From George and Ira Gershwin to Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, from Irving Berlin to John Kander and Fred Ebb, or from Jerry Herman to Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, Jewish composers and entertainers have been an integral part of the Broadway and American pop lexicon for well over a century. (And then there’s Barbra Streisand, Carole King, and even Elvis Presley – Elvis’ maternal great-great grandmother, Nancy Burdine, was Jewish. Her daughter gave birth to Doll Mansell who gave birth to Gladys Smith who gave birth to Elvis!).

These, and many more icons of the stage, screen, and recording studio will be celebrated in To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood! Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals. The production will run from January 17^th through February 2^nd at the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park. The popular series (To Life 1 through 4 each played to sold out houses at almost every performance) was developed by producer Hy Juter and is written by and will be directed and hosted by Shari Upbin.

This all-new 5th chapter in the series will once again feature amusing anecdotes and fascinating facts about some of America’s most well-known, lauded, and popular Jewish composers and entertainers who created and performed in such iconic productions as Mame, Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, Milk and Honey, and many more.

The production will feature top-tier South Florida entertainers Jinon Deeb, Bruno Faria, Shelley Keelor, and Shane Tanner. Noted pianist/composer Elliot Weiss will serve as the production’s musical director. Nicole Roach is the production’s Stage Manager.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring another chapter of To Life to the stage!” Shari Upbin says. “This season we have added stories of The Yiddish Theatre to songs of the Brill Building which includes Carole King and songs by Lieber and Stoller, “Hound Dog,” “Chapel of Love”… along with favorites by Gershwin, Berlin, Sheldon Harnick and Sondheim. This one is going to be a dynamic crowd pleaser!”

To Life 5 will run from January 17 through February 2 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $46; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $41. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.myboca.us/2647/To-Life-5 or by phone at 561-347-3948. The Willow Theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail, in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park (33486).

For more information about To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood! Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals,to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Photo credits:
For Hy Juter: Arlene Juter
For Shari Upbin: Michael Thomas Photos

To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood!
Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals
January 17 – February 2, 2025
Written and Directed by Shari Upbin
Musical Direction by Elliot Weiss
Produced and Created by Hy Juter
Ticket prices: $46
Group rates: $41 (for groups of 6 or more tickets purchased in a single transaction)
For tickets & Information:
https://www.myboca.us/2647/To-Life-5
Or call 561-347-3948
Performance days & times:
Friday & Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33486