SOUL DOCTOR to Close Segal Centre's 2013-14 Season, 6/8-29

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts has announced that SOUL DOCTOR: The Journey of a Rock-Star Rabbi, the new musical based on the life of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, will make its Canadian premiere in Yiddish at the Segal Centre from June 8-29, 2014. Direct from Broadway, Soul Doctor will close the Segal Centre's 2013-2014 Season, replacing the previously announced production of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.

Written by Daniel S. Wise with lyrics by David Shechter, Soul Doctor is an uplifting new musical about the life and music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and his friendship with the high-priestess of soul, Nina Simone.

Beginning with his childhood escape from Nazi Germany, the show follows Carlebach's surprising journey as he becomes a rabbinical prodigy who leads a religious revival movement, discovers gospel and soul music through his friendship with Simone, and has a meteoric rise as a "Rock Star Rabbi." In the '60s he performed with the likes of Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. Stardom, however, had a price, and Carlebach had to make peace with his family, faith and personal demons. Featuring over 30 of Shlomo's timeless hits, Soul Doctor is an exhilarating musical journey through the triumphs and tribulations of a cultural phenomenon.

Soul Doctor held its Broadway debut in the Summer of 2013 at New York's Circle in the Square Theatre and was hailed as "a joyous, leaping roar" and "an unabashedly celebratory show" by The New York Times.

Honorary Artistic Director of the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre Bryna Wasserman saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the inspiring story of Shlomo Carlebach to Montreal audiences:

"The music and journey of Rabbi Carlebach is one that will resonate strongly with our community. In bringing this new musical to the Segal Centre in Yiddish, we have the exciting opportunity to capture the spiritual essence of his songwriting on stage," says Wasserman, who returns to Montreal to co-direct Soul Doctor with Rachelle Glait.

Soul Doctor is presented in Yiddish with English and French Supertitles.