Jun 07, 2018 i recently had the pleasure of obtaining the first interview with feldshuh featuring the debut of tovah as leona, premiering july 5th in new york city at feinsteins 54 below. Tovah feldshuh, who played golda meir in goldas balcony on broadway, portrays irena gut opdyke. Irenas vow honors wwii heroine new york daily news. Tovah feldshuh who stars in broadways irenas vow fills out s questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits. Boca raton, fl sixtime tony and emmy nominee tovah feldshuh will return to. He deftly draws the historic backdrop to irenas story and creates a suspenseful narrative and enthralling dialog. Irenes book in my hands memories of a holocaust rescuer from random house relays the detailed account of her life during the second world war and is used in classrooms around the country. Irenas vow broadway original broadway production, 2009. Feldshuh appeared on the stage under the name terri fairchild before deciding to incorporate her hebrew name and her original surname as her professional name, tovah feldshuh. Her story is dramatized in dan gordons gripping play irenas vow, starring tovah feldshuh as a polish catholic who kept house for a german major during the nazi occupation of poland. Tovah feldshuh as leona helmsley, an exclusive first look. Tovah feldshuh wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
Would that he had also written about an unsung hero, irena gut opdyke. Fourtime tony award nominee tovah feldshuh will return to the broadway stage for irenas vow, written by dan gordon and directed by michael parva. Irenas vow celebrates one womans bravery washington. Tovah feldshuh was interviewed by ingrid lemme host of the award winning program american dream show on vvhtv. Irenes life story was recently told each night on broadway in the nationally acclaimed play irenas vow staring tovah feldshuh. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. American dream is videotaped at gurneys inn in montauk before a live studio. Irenas vow is the story of irena gut opdyke, a young polish catholic woman who took unimaginable risks and paid an unspeakable personal price to save the lives of 12 jews by hiding them in the. Irena gut opdyke tovah feldshuh, just a teenager when the nazis invaded poland, in 1939, saved the lives of thirteen jews by hiding them for nearly two years in the cellar of the highranking. As broadway beckons, a question about casting irenas vow. Dan gordons inspirational but manipulative irenas vow is based on the reallife heroism of irena gut opdyke, a young woman who hid twelve jews in the basement of a nazi officers house. At the end of this 90 minute, oneact production, the audience was so visibly moved, that many remained in their seats to collect their emotions.
After a hit run offbroadway, dan gordons simple and moving truelife drama irenas vow has opened on the main stem. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. In doing so, feldshuh makes the potentially unmemorable irenas vow into a truly unforgettable fusion of character and charisma an event of the kind we can never see too often. Dolan, the newly installed archbishop of new york, plans to see the broadway play irenas vow on saturday night, according to a publicist for the show. I hung a sign on my heart and nerves, says irena tovah feldshuh, looking back over her young adulthood.
On wednesday august th, 2008 tovah feldshuh, having just returned from a trip to poland, attended a meet and greet with the cast and production team of irenas vow, the polish cultural. Additionally, for her theatre work, she has won four drama desks, four outer critics circle awards, three dramalogues, the obie, the theatre world, and the helen hayes and lucille lortel awards for best actress. Tovah feldshuh stars as an ordinary woman with extraordinary. Tovah feldshuh and the irenas vow company mark holocaust. He chose irena because of all the clergy who have glowed to him about it, and he is particularly interested in judeocatholic relations, said the publicist. The stars came out on opening night to see tovah feldshuh s gripping performance in the title role of irenas vow. Tovah feldshuh returns to the mizner park cultural center. The players had just finished a sixmonth stint off broadway, and are currently preparing the. Irenas vow, starring tovah feldshuh, plays broadways kerr. I recently saw the first dramatic reading of a play ever staged at the united nations headquarters in new york. Carol rosegg tovah feldshuh in irenas vow at the baruch performing arts center in september. Tovah feldshuh theatre credits, news, bio and photos. A gripping holocaust story, irena s vow is the extraordinary reallife saga of a young polish woman who managed to shelter more than a dozen jewish refugees in the cellar of the villa where she worked as housekeeper to a nazi commandant.
The official database for broadway theatre information shows. Fortunately for us, playwright dan gordon has cleaved to irenas courageous story and it is now being told on the broadway stage in irenas vow, starring the brilliant actor, tovah feldshuh, who starred in. Feldshuh s only impediment with irenas vow, she said, was trying to understand the catholic belief in jesus as god incarnate. Fortunately for us, playwright dan gordon has cleaved to irena s courageous story and it is now being told on the broadway stage in irena s vow, starring the brilliant actor, tovah feldshuh, who starred in golda s balcony four years ago. Tovah feldshuh returns to the mizner park cultural center in. She has been a broadway star for more than four decades, earning four tony award nominations.
Irenas vow is the story of irena gut opdyke, a young polish catholic woman who took unimaginable risks. Mar 29, 2009 when you learn that irenas vow concerns the german atrocities of world war ii, you might be inclined to think. In irenas vow, tovah feldshuh, portraying the true life character, irena gut opdyke, gives the performance of a lifetime. Tovah feldshuh immortalizes life of young shoah heroine in irenas vow. For her other work on the new york stage, from yentl, sarava. After the play which tracks polish catholic irene gut opdykes reallife rescue of jews during. Tovah feldshuh biography children, name, story, school. Irenas vow broadway tickets irenas vow broadway tour. So hurry up and get your irenas vow tickets to see this amazing new play on broadway and enjoy a night at the theater you wont soon forget. Irenes book in my hands memories of a holocaust rescuer from random house relays the detailed. But in irenas vow, a play about a roman catholic housekeeper who saves 12 jews during world war ii, playwright dan gordon largely avoids both pitfalls. Fourtime tony nominee tovah feldshuh plays irena gut, a reallife polish catholic who worked as the housekeeper for a highranking nazi.
Tovah feldshuh and the irenas vow company mark holocaust remembrance day. Irenas vow, starring tovah feldshuh, at baruch performing. Sidelights broadway star tovah feldshuh has built her career taking on roles that reflect her jewish heritage. Thomas ryan as major rugemer, tovah feldshuh as irena gut opdyke, and john stanisci sturmbannfuhrer rokita in irenas vow. Those present at the march 29 broadway opening night of dan gordons irenas vow, starring tovah feldshuh, will always remember the thunderclap. Tovah feldshuh and stephanie faracy in sisters in law at the wallis. Irena s vow is a broadway play recounting the story of irena gut, a polish nurse who, at the risk of her life, saved twelve jews during world war ii in germanoccupied poland. Feldshuh never tries, but she gives you an invaluable lesson in what separates the true stars from merely the good or even great actresses. Tovah feldshuh in irenas vow carol rosegg the multitalented tovah feldshuh yes, she still does cartwheels is best known onstage for playing the jewish title characters in yentl and. But movies being movies, who knows if tovah feldshuh will be in it and if she is, its likely shell be sharing the role with a younger actress. Feldshuh currently stars in irenas vow, a play by dan gordon about ms. A gripping holocaust story, irenas vow is the extraordinary reallife saga of a young polish woman who managed to shelter more than a dozen jewish refugees in the cellar of the villa where she worked as housekeeper to a nazi commandant.
Driven by a fiercelyfelt performance from tovah feldshuh in the title role. While the play succeeds in delivering a satisfying and occasionally chilling plot, the production fails to fully comprehend the true depth of its own characters and thus realize the narratives full potential. In my tradition, she said, its forbidden to engage in idol worship, and i wondered how i would approach irenas idea of christ, and that he is the son of god. Once the story became known, a book was written and it was also immortalized in the beloved play irenas vow by dan gordon, which starred tovah feldshuh in its 20082009 broadway run. Tovah feldshuh as leona helmsley this is a donotmiss tovah embodies this new york name with every fiber of her. But movies being movies, who knows if tovah feldshuh will be in it and if she is, it s likely shell be sharing the role with a younger actress. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Tovah feldshuh returns to the mizner park cultural center in tovah is leona. Irena s vow original, play, drama, broadway opened in new york city mar 29, 2009 and played through jun 28, 2009. Tovah feldshuh bio, photos, theatre credits, stage history. Irena s vow is the story of irena gut opdyke, a young polish catholic woman who took unimaginable risks and paid an unspeakable personal price to save the lives of 12 jews by hiding them in the. Entitled irenas vow, the play is based on the reallife story of irena gut opdyke, who, during world war ii, saved the lives of jewish refugees by hiding them in her basement shelter.
Irenas vow may be melodramatic and occasionally manipulative, but the emotions this stage biography stirs in theatergoers are genuine, a testament to the. Apr 16, 2009 those present at the march 29 broadway opening night of dan gordons irenas vow, starring tovah feldshuh, will always remember the thunderclap that shook the walter kerr theatre. Terri sue tovah feldshuh born december 27, 1952 is an american actress, singer and playwright. The play irenas vow has become the latest production to announce its closing as broadway polishes off its 20089 season and prepares for a new year. Tovah feldshuh was born on december 27, 1952 in new york city, new york, usa as terri sue feldshuh. American dream is videotaped at gurney s inn in montauk before a live studio.
Sarava, lend me a tenor, goldas balcony to irenas vowfeldshuh has earned four tony nominations for. She is an actress, known for lady in the water 2006, just my luck 2006 and brewster s millions 1985. She is a member of the national book critics circle. Book tovah feldshuh for public speaking harry walker agency.
Opdyke, who was catholic, and the jews she saved while working as a young housekeeper for a highranking ss. Aug 29, 2012 tovah feldshuh stars in irena s vow by dan gordon at the walter kerr theatre on broadway. Apr 25, 2019 irenas vow an inspirational true story of daring, guts and bravery the germans forced her a conquered pole to work in the villa of a wehrmacht major in the german barracks. For her work on the new york stage, which includes, among many others, goldas balcony, irenas vow, yentl, lend me a tenor, and sarava. Tovah feldshuh as leona helmsley boca raton, fl sixtime tony and emmy nominee tovah feldshuh will return to the mizner park cultural. Tovah feldshuh plays a gutsy polish catholic girl in dan gordons powerful if predictable world war ii drama.
Jun 04, 2009 written by dan gordon, irenas vow centers on the story of a real life polish catholic housekeeper played by tovah feldshuh who protected jews during world war ii. Based on a true story, irenas vow follows irena gut, a catholic nurse sentenced to slave labor during the german occupation of poland. Fourtime tony nominee tovah feldshuh plays irena gut, a reallife polish catholic who worked as the housekeeper for a highranking nazi during. Rock of ages, a jukebox musical with big hair, tight outfits and classic 80s rock, and irenas vow, a hearttouching drama about a young woman who saved 11. For the memories which she wishes to shut away are heinous, inhuman. Irenas vow tickets irenas vow tickets tour stubhub. Maja wampuszyc, tracee chimo, tovah feldshuh, and gene silvers in irenas vow carol rosegg editors note. She was the original yentl in the new york theater production of the same name that went on to become a 1983 barbra streisand film, and transformed herself into formidable israeli leader golda meir for an acclaimed 2003 play, goldas balcony. Irenas vow is a broadway play recounting the story of irena gut, a polish nurse who, at the risk. A film version of irena s vow is in the not too distant future. Jan 27, 2009 tovah feldshuh, star of the forthcoming broadway production of irenas vow, will perform a reading of the play at the united nations on january 27 as part of the u. Tovah feldshuh stars in irena s vow by dan gordon at the walter kerr theatre on broadway.
In doing so, feldshuh makes the potentially unmemorable irena s vow into a truly unforgettable fusion of character and charisma an event of the kind we can never see too often. Irenas vow is a broadway play recounting the story of irena gut, a polish nurse who. When irena becomes the housekeeper for major rugemer thomas ryan, the factory boss, she sees a chance to save the. Irenas vow star tovah feldshuh the playwright, according to the new york times, will also direct the motion picture. She has also received two emmy award nominations for. Irenas vow tickets will be going fast and if you dont secure your seats soon you may miss out on this great live show. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box. Irenas vow is a striking contrast to the gilded nihilism and glitzy escapism that marks much of broadway. Oct 02, 2008 tovah feldshuh was interviewed by ingrid lemme host of the award winning program american dream show on vvhtv. Terri sue tovah feldshuh is the most acclaimed artist in the cast of ten performing in dan gordons irenas vow.
Tovah feldshuh is back as the queen of mean times square. Behem sve herecke kariery byla nominovana napriklad na ceny emmy ci tony award. Fourtime tony award nominee tovah feldshuh will return to the stage for irenas vow, written by dan gordon and directed by michael parva. When doing research for her role as irene gut opdyke in the play irena s vow, feldshuh traveled to borshchiv, ukraine, and discovered that her own ancestor, moishe feldshuh, had lived there in the early 20th century. I fell in love with a christian boy, michael fairchild, who didnt want to kiss a terri sue. Appearing in other roles are sandi carroll, tracee chimo, steven hauck, scott klaven, peter reznikoff, thomas ryan, gene silvers, john stanisci and maja wampuszyc. May 04, 2009 irena s vow stars the actress tovah feldshuh, who first appears onstage telling her incredible story to a group of high school students. Irenas vow an inspirational true story of daring, guts.
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