The iconic album turned stage show, You Don’t Have To Be Jewish, makes its Australian premiere at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre this October.
Created by Grammy-award winning broadcaster, Bob Booker, the new revival will feature an all star cast and be directed by playwright, Ruth Fingret.
Originally released in 1965 as a collection of sketches and songs, Booker is thrilled a production of the show will hit Australia for the first-time.
“I loved Australia every time I visited. My daughter worked there after school and had an apartment two blocks from Bondi Beach,” said Booker.
Now “91-years young,” Booker says the album has sustained popularity today because “funny is funny.”
“It was the heart and soul that other humour does not necessarily have, because the people behind it have the heart and soul, and the gift of humour,” Booker continued.
Known for his satirical comedy, Booker’s first hit The First Family which won the Grammy for Album Of The Year in 1962. Shortly after, Booker sparked the idea for You Don’t Have To Be Jewish after a lunch with legendary Jewish comedians, including Zero Mostel who featured on the album.
With its popularity, stage productions of the album have travelled across the United States and were recently shown in Los Angeles and Miami (directed by Jason Alexander).
Read the article by Justin Cooper on City Hub.