Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody Deliver Heart and Humor at Congregation B'nai Israel

Mandy Patinkin will later appear in Sarasota Thursday, February 16

Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody Deliver Heart and Humor at Congregation B'nai Israel

Mandy Patinkin has graced many of the world's stages and dazzled audiences on screens of all sizes. Broadway fans of a certain age may recognize him in his Tony Award-winning role Che in Evita or the title character in Sunday in the Park with George. TV and streaming audiences may remember his Emmy-winning performance as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in Chicago Hope or his equally riveting portrayal of Saul Berenson in Homeland.

In the internet age, the public may recognize Patinkin wielding a sword as the troubled Inigo Montoya in Ron Reiner's cult classic The Princess Bride.

Most audiences expect to hear Mandy sing "High Flying Adored" or recite his most meme-worthy movie line.

However, this past Thursday, a sold-out crowd at Congregation B'nai Israel in Boca Raton was able to see the real Mandy at his most vulnerable in "An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody".

This engagement was presented as part of Congregation B'nai Israel's Rosenthal Speaker Series. According to Executive Director Steve Allen, "An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody" was the highest-grossing event in the series' history.

Patinkin graciously shares the sanctuary bema with Grody, his loving wife of 43 years. An Obie Award-winning actress, Grody wrote and starred in an autobiographical play titled A Mom's Life, and appeared as Lola in Primary Stages' production of The Model Apartment.

The couple recently made strides on social media after their son, Gideon Grody-Patinkin, posted videos of their daily life on various platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Patinkin began performing on his "Being Alive" concert tour earlier this month, this is the first time Patinkin and Grody appeared in this candid speaking engagement. The couple maintained an air of humility throughout the evening. Patinkin was kind enough to offer chocolate bars to congregants in the front row.

During this event, Grody-Patinkin interviewed his parents on a variety of topics, with several questions taken from audience members in advance.

The conversation began with the couple addressing their diametrically opposed relationships with Judaism. While Patinkin was raised in a conservative Jewish household, Grody was raised as a self-proclaimed "Southern California Jew," who only celebrated "Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Social Justice."

Grody joked about how she created a custom-made Haggadah for Passover marrying traditional scripture with Feminist texts and quotes from Martin Luther King. Meanwhile, Patinkin discussed the three Hebrew prayers he recites daily to his dog Becky, which became fodder for a video on Twitter. These prayers include Debbie Friedman's Mi Shebeirach, the Shema Yisrael and the Hamotzi.

Patinkin and Grody spoke at length about their storied careers. Patinkin lamented about turning down the role of Danny Zuko in the original Chicago and Broadway productions of Grease, while Grody mentioned turning down a Broadway revival of The Diary of Anne Frank which starred a 13-year-old Natalie Portman.

Other topics in this conversation included the institution of marriage, parenthood, and the couple's individual strengths and weaknesses in homemaking. "All I do for the family is clean the kitchen," Patinkin jests.

Later in the conversation, Grody-Patinkin praised his father for being emotionally open at a time when toxic masculinity was commonplace. He recalled an instance where the family was on an airplane. His older brother, Isaac was crying about something. The flight attendant chided him saying "big boys don't cry." The brother responded with a quick-witted rebuttal. "That's not true. My daddy cries all the time."

The evening also included some light-hearted moments, such as Patinkin "twerking for democracy" on TikTok during the 2020 election cycle. The younger Grody-Patinkin later led his parents in some improv exercises that showcased their loving trust as a married couple. These scenes were not rehearsed or planned.

While this event was a far cry from a concert, audiences could still enjoy a song and dance. The evening concluded with Patinkin and Son performing a rousing rendition of "Ya Got Trouble" from The Music Man.

"An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody" will be presented on Tuesday, February 14 at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, N.J. Florida audiences can still see Patinkin live on stage in his "Being Alive" tour Thursday, February 16 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota.



TAP DANCING THROUGH AUSCHWITZ to Return to the Boca Black Box Theater in April Photo
'Tap Dancing Through Auschwitz' is set to return to the Boca Black Box Theater in West Boca Raton Wednesday, April 26th & Thursday, April 27th at 8 p.m.

Photos: Linda Purl with Billy Stritch Play Cafe Centro Photo
If there was any doubt that Cafe Centro was a bona fide Cabaret Venue it was dispelled last night.  Billy Stritch was seated at the Cafe’s Grand Piano and Linda Purl was the songstress headlining on the cabaret stage of the South Florida restaurant. 

South Florida Symphony Orchestras 25th Anniversary Season Concludes With Rachmaninoff and  Photo
​​​​​​​ South Florida Symphony Orchestra will close out its triumphant 25th anniversary season with a grand finale concert featuring  Rachmaninoff's demanding Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by Svetlana Smolina; along with Bruckner's choral masterpiece, Te Deum, featuring the South Florida Symphony Chorus and vocalists Elaine Alvarez, soprano; Rehanna Thelwell, mezzo-soprano; Neil Nelson, bass-baritone; and Arnold Rawls, tenor.

Classical Superstar Joshua Bell Joins Palm Beach Symphony, April 16 Photo
Grammy Award-winner Joshua Bell, one of the most celebrated violinists of his era, joins Maestro Gerard Schwarz and Palm Beach Symphony in an evening of Mendelssohn and Beethoven at the Kravis Center on Sunday, April 16 at 8 p.m. 


From This Author - David McKibbin

David McKibbin is ecstatic to share his love of theatre with the world by writing for BroadwayWorld.com. David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre with a Minor in Voice Perf... (read more about this author)


'ALAN CUMMING IS NOT ACTING HIS AGE' Tickets Are Now On Sale at the Studio At Mizner Park'ALAN CUMMING IS NOT ACTING HIS AGE' Tickets Are Now On Sale at the Studio At Mizner Park
February 23, 2023

The Studio at Mizner Park (201 Plaza Real) will welcome two-time Tony Award® winner and five-time Emmy® nominee Alan Cumming, with his cabaret show, 'Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age,' on Saturday, April 22 for two shows at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $99 to $150 and are available for purchase at www.thestudioatmiznerpark.com or on TicketMaster.

Newly Renamed Studio at Mizner Park Reinvigorates Under New ManagementNewly Renamed Studio at Mizner Park Reinvigorates Under New Management
February 17, 2023

The Studio at Mizner Park has undergone a series of changes to bring multi-generational arts programming to Downtown Boca.

BARCLAY Performing Arts Stages THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICALBARCLAY Performing Arts Stages THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL
January 31, 2023

BARCLAY Performing Arts presents its final show of the fall 2023 season, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical on Sunday, February 5 at 5 p.m. in the Lake Park Black Box at the Kelsey Theater, located at 700 Park Avenue in Lake Park. Boca Raton audiences can also see this show for free on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. outdoors in the courtyard of Somerset Courtyard Shoppes (8903 Glades Road).

Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody Deliver Heart and Humor at Congregation B'nai IsraelMandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody Deliver Heart and Humor at Congregation B'nai Israel
January 27, 2023

This past Thursday, a sold-out crowd at Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton was able to see the real Mandy Patinkin at his most vulnerable in “An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody”.

Review: Say 'I Do' To TIL DEATH DO US PART...YOU FIRST!Review: Say 'I Do' To TIL DEATH DO US PART...YOU FIRST!
January 23, 2023

Til Death Do Us Part…You First! is a show that combines fast-paced Catskills-style comedy with a grounded sense of pathos. Even behind Fogel’s mask of self-deprecating humor, audiences can see a man on a journey to find acceptance. If you have a friend or relative in the Lonely Hearts Club, tickets to this show will be the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift.