Original Capt. Von Trapp in Sound of Music Honored With Docu Film | Playbill

News Original Capt. Von Trapp in Sound of Music Honored With Docu Film Actor and folksinger Theodore Bikel is getting a salute in New York City June 21 with the premiere of a documentary film intertwining his life with that of the Yiddish-language writer Sholem Aleichem, whose stories formed the basis of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Bikel, 91, who created the role of Captain Von Trapp opposite Mary Martin in the original 1959 Broadway production of The Sound of Music also played the role of Tevye in Fiddler more than 2000 times, on tour and in regional productions.

The film, “Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholem Aleichem,” stars Emmy Award-winning actor Alan Alda as narrator and, as described by the filmmakers, "weaves together the portraits of two beloved icons, Aleichem and Bikel. The two men are revealed to have much in common: wit, wisdom and talent, all shot through with deep humanity and a healthy dose of Yiddishkeit [Yiddish-ness]"

The screening is scheduled for 6 PM at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and will be followed by a Q&A session with Bikel and writer John Lollos. The event is the closing program of the Jewish performing arts festival, KulturfestNYC.

In addition to his career as a folksinger, Bikel appeared on Broadway seven times and in more than 150 movie roles including his Oscar-nominated performance in “The Defiant Ones.” In addition to his work in Fiddler on the Roof, Bikel helped created two musical plays about Aleichem.

Tickets to the Bikel documentary screening cost $10 for the movie alone, and $36, for the post-screening program and a special toast to Bikel. For more information about the film, KulturfestNYC or National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, visit KulturfestNYC.org or call (212) 213- 2120 x204.

 
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