Shlomo Carlebach Bio-Musical Soul Doctor to Play New York Theatre Workshop

Soul Doctor, a new bio-musical about rock star rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and his unlikely friendship with Nina Simone, will play off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. Written and directed by Daniel Wise and featuring music by Calebach, Simone and lyrics by David Schechter, the musical will star Eric Anderson (South Pacific) and Erica Ash (MadTV, Baby It’s You) as Carlebach and Simone, respectively. Soul Doctor will play a limited engagement from July 30 through August 19. Opening night is set for August 13. 

Soul Doctor tells the story of the beloved yet controversial father of popular Jewish music, rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. Beginning with his childhood escape from Nazi Germany, the show follows his surprising journey as he becomes a rabbinical prodigy in America, discovers gospel and soul music through his friendship with Simone and has a meteoric rise as a “Rock Star Rabbi.” In the '60s he performed with the likes of Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. However stardom had a price, and Carlebach had to make peace with his family, faith and personal demons.

Joinging Anderson and Ash are Meredith Kaye Clarke (Wicked), Ryan Strand (Jersey Boys), Kenny Morris, Rachel Stern, Dionne Figgins, Ryan Duncan and Julia Osborne.

The creative team for Soul Doctor will include lighting designer Jeff Croiter, sound designer Clive Goodwin, choreographer Camille A. Brown, musical arranger Steve Margoshes and musical director Seth Farber.

Produced by Jeremy Chess, Joel Kahn, Jerome Levy, Edward L. Steinberg, Robert Beckwitt and Alan Zimbard, Soul Doctor previously enjoyed out-of-town engagements in Florida and New Orleans.