Classic TV Legends Gather to Share the "Love" On Stage - Herbie J Pilato

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Cover image for  article: Classic TV Legends Gather to Share the "Love" On Stage - Herbie J Pilato

The worlds of classic TV and theatre are about to collide in a most amazing and hilarious way:

From February 1st to March 10th, The Greencourt Theatre In Los Angeles will present "When You're In Love The Whole World Is Jewish," directed by Jason Alexander, written by Bob Booker, co-produced by Danny Gold and Joey Riback, and featuring a stellar cast, including Lynn Adrianna, Barry Gordon, Brian Herskowitz, Michael Pasternak, Ellen Ratner, Robert Shampain, Rena Strober, and Jay Brian Winnick.

Renaissance man Alexander, best known as George Constanza on Seinfeld, is one ofHollywood's most talented and multi-faceted performers. Booker clocks in with over 500 hours classic television that he has produced and written. Gold is defined by his very name when it comes to productions from not only the classic world of TV (such as the acclaimed DVD release of Kung Fu), but new classics such as the Award-winning documentary,100 Voices: A Journey Home (released theatrically and recently screened on KCET-TV in LA). Riback has appeared on or written everything from The Merv Griffin Showto Murphy Brown to The Sweet Life of Zach & Cody.

Classically-trained actress Adrianna, whose background is as rich in culture as it is talent, has appeared on new classic TV shows likeLaw & Order: Criminal Intent. The ever-affable Barry Gordon is best known in the classic TV world from his stints onThe New Dick Van Dyke Showand Archie Bunker's Place. And the long-lasting career of Brian Herskowitz fondly traces back as far as Eight is Enough.

This versatile cast, production team, and their colleagues now combine to deliver "When You're In Love The Whole World Is Jewish," the premise for which, according to its website, is this:

When a young Jewish boy decides he wants to marry his very gentile girlfriend, who knows nothing about Jewish customs or culture, he seeks the help of his Rabbi. The learned man then acts as a guide, taking the couple on a ride through the Jewish way of life, as a way of educating the young girl. This laugh-filled journey, incorporating twenty-five legendary comedy sketches and songs, covers every facet of Jewish life, from business and travel, to marriage and family, and is sure to appeal to all, because as the title of the show says, "When You're In Love, The Whole World Is Jewish."

The backstory?

In 1965, there was an innovative album that captured the public's imagination, and it was titled "You Don't Have To Be Jewish," which was released by Kapp Records. It featured the talented voices of additionally talented actors (and classic TV greats) like Lou Jacobi, Betty Walker, Jack Gilford, and Frank Gallop.

This collection of classic Jewish humor was written and produced by Bob Booker and George Foster, this collection of classic Jewish humor was, within weeks of its release, a Top 10 hit. It also received a Grammy nomination as "Comedy Album of the Year."

The following year a sequel was released, titled, "When You're In Love, The Whole World Is Jewish," once more produced Kapp Records, and featuring Jacobi, Walker, Gallop, who sang The ballad of Irving (which became a Top 10 hit). This second album also featured a young actress from New York named Valerie Harper, who would go on to find classic TV fame of her own as Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and then her own spin-off, Rhoda.

The forward story?

"When You're In Love The Whole World Is Jewish" - the play - is a MUST-SEE classic TV and musical theatre world event!

For more information, click on: http://www.worldisjewishtheplay.com/

Herbie J Pilato is an actor/writer/producer/executive who has worked for Syfy, A&E, TLC, Bravo, The Discovery Channel, Universal, Warner Bros. and Sony. The author of a number of acclaimed classic TV tie-in books (The BionicBook, LifeStory - The Book of Life Goes On, The Bewitched Book,BewitchedForever, TheKung Fu Book of Caine,The Kung Fu Book of Wisdom, and NBC & ME: My Life As A Page In A Book), Herbie J is also the Founder and Executive Director for The Classic TV Preservation Society (a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between positive TV shows and education; www.ClassicTVPS.blogspot.com); the Creative Director for Erie Street Entertainment (a TV production company that is geared toward sci-fi/fantasy, and family-oriented material; www.ErieStreetEntertainment.blogspot.com); and the President of Pop-Culture Consultants (an entertainment consulting firm, www.Pop-CultureConsultants.blogspot.com). He appears frequently on TV in shows, like the TV Guide Channel's new series, 100 Moments That Changed TV and Entertainment Tonight. He has performed on daytime soaps like General Hospital and The Bold and The Beautiful, as well as classic TV shows like The Golden Girls and Highway to Heaven. Herbie J’s new book, TWITCH UPON A STAR: THE BEWITCHED LIFE AND CAREER OF ELIZABETEH MONTGOMERY, will be published in November by Taylor Trade Publishing. To pre-order the book, click on this link https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781589797499 and/or for more information, please email hjpilato@yahoo.com.

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