Broadcasting station PBS will air their very own production called "Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy," a new 90-minute documentary by Michael Kantor, will air as part of PBS' "Great Performances" series Jan. 1, 2013, at 9:30 PM ET according to Playbill.com.
The program will be narrated by Joel Grey and the program notes say the documentary "explores the unique role of Jewish composers and lyricists in the creation of the modern American musical. Featuring interviews and conversations with some of the greatest composers and writers of the Broadway stage, 'Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy' showcases the work of some of the nation's pre-eminent creators of musical theatre."
The documentary will showcase the likes of Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin and Oscar Hammerstein II to name a few.
Some of the film's more highlighted performances come from Barbara Streisand, Dick Van Dyke, Nathan Lane, Kirstin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
The production is being labeled by PBS as the "first of its kind to examine the phenomenon that, over the 50-year period of its development, the songs of the Broadway musical were created almost exclusively by Jewish Americans. These are the popular songs that our nation took to war, sang to their children at bedtime, and whistled while waiting for the bus; taken in total they comprise the vast majority of what is now commonly referred to as "The American Songbook.."
The film was produced, written and directed by Kantor "Broadway: The American Musical" is an Albert M. Tapper production, and Barbra Brilliant is creator and executive producer. For "Great Performances," Bill O'Donnell is series producer, and David Horn is executive producer.
Barbra Streisand- Don't Rain On My Parade (Funny Girl)
