Temple Or Elohim’s Cantor David Katz invites the Jericho community and beyond to celebrate Broadway in a showstopping musical event on May 15.
This year, the temple welcomes Steven Lutvak, composer and lyricist of Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder, for its annual gala concert. Accompanying Lutvak and the cantor will be former leading actress from Disney’s Mary Poppins, Catherine Walker. These three vocalists will be sharing their musical talents with temple attendees in an evening of Broadway, pop and ethnic genres.
“We are bringing Tony-award wining performances to Jericho and the three of us will present a barrage of Broadway hits,” said Katz. “The community can come to the temple and see a Broadway-quality show without making the trip to the city and paying Manhattan prices. Our goal is to bring a high level of culture to Jericho and the North Shore.”
Lutvak made his Broadway debut as composer and co-lyricist of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which won the Tony award for best musical along with Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards.
He’s also written a dozen-plus musicals, scored several films and has performed his material at the city’s most legendary rooms including Carnegie Hall, The Oak Room, Rainbow and Stars and The Russian Tea Room. Katz and Walker have similarly appeared in some of the finest venues in New York and around the country.
For the concert, Walker will reprise her role as Phoebe D’Ysquith in Gentleman’s Guide. Previously, she also performed on Broadway in Ragtime. She will also share a few of her favorite songs from the Great American Songbook.
Katz will be sharing his diverse musical background of opera and liturgical genres throughout the evening as well as joining the other artists in Broadway show stoppers.
His expertise has taken him across the globe from singing opera in Europe to singing with some of the most well known orchestras in the United States including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra with Marvin Hamlisch.
In addition he has performed in front of thousands at Citi Field and Nassau Coliseum where he has sung the National Anthem many times.
“Whether I’m singing on the high holidays or at a concert with other singers, my preparation and focus is the same,” said Katz, who has been a cantor on Long Island for about 20 years. “My goal has always been to bring the very best to the community. And people coming to this show can expect to have their socks knocked off.”
The show will be split into two acts with an intermission and will run about an hour and a half. There is a panel discussion being planned for those who would like the opportunity to meet the stars before the event, with a Q&A session and light refreshments included.
Tickets for this event will be available to everyone at a slightly higher price than the temple’s actual concert price.
To purchase the tickets, visit the temple website www.templeorelohim.com, call the temple office 516-433-9888, ext. 14, or email office@templeorelohim.com.
Temple Or Elohim is located at 18 Tobie Lane in Jericho.
