Broadway’s Jewish Soul: A Legacy That Still Sings

PHOTO- Andrae Ricketts for Unsplash
Times Square, New York, United States
Published on August 19, 2017

From the neon marquees of Times Square to the timeless tunes that fill our collective memory, Broadway is one of America’s most cherished cultural institutions. But beneath the glitter and applause lies a truth too often overlooked: Broadway is—and always has been—deeply Jewish.

For more than a century, Jewish artists, composers, playwrights, and producers have shaped American musical theater into the force it is today. In fact, you can’t tell the story of Broadway without telling the story of Jewish immigration, artistry, and creativity.

From the Shtetl to Center Stage

The early 20th century saw waves of Jewish immigrants arriving from Eastern Europe, many settling in New York City with little more than a dream. They brought with them rich traditions of storytelling, music, and satire—ingredients that would prove essential to the birth of Broadway as we know it.

Men like Irving Berlin, the son of a Russian cantor, would go on to pen “God Bless America.” George and Ira Gershwin fused klezmer roots with jazz and classical influences to create an entirely new American sound. And Jerome Kern, the grandson of German Jews, helped usher in the modern musical with Show Boat.

These artists weren’t just successful—they were transformative. They turned a scrappy, vaudeville-infused entertainment scene into a sophisticated, emotionally resonant art form.

Jewish Themes, Universal Appeal

So many Broadway classics echo with Jewish sensibilities—whether it’s the biting wit of a Neil Simon play or the spiritual longing in Fiddler on the Roof. That 1964 musical, created by Jewish geniuses Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein, wasn’t just about a shtetl—it was about identity, tradition, and change. And it resonated not just with Jewish audiences, but with anyone who had ever felt the tension between heritage and progress.

Shows like Cabaret, Ragtime, and Falsettos deal head-on with antisemitism, assimilation, and diaspora identity. Even more recent hits like The Band’s Visit quietly honor Jewish cultural nuance, set to a score by Israeli-American composer David Yazbek.

Behind the Curtain

Jews have also played a dominant role in producing, directing, and promoting Broadway theater. From Harold Prince to Stephen Sondheim (whose paternal grandparents were German Jews), the creative control rooms of Broadway have often been powered by Jewish visionaries. Their impact isn’t just artistic—it’s structural. They helped create the very business model of modern American theater.

And yet, despite this deep-rooted legacy, antisemitism has not been absent from the scene. Jewish creators often had to mask or downplay their identity. Some changed their names. Others wove their stories into universal themes to avoid being typecast or sidelined. Still, the heart of Jewish experience—resilience, humor, exile, reinvention—beats at the center of their work.

A Legacy That Endures

In today’s Broadway landscape, where diversity is rightfully celebrated, it’s important not to forget the contributions of Jewish creators who helped build the foundation. Their melodies still echo, their words move us, and their legacy continues through a new generation of artists unafraid to tell stories rooted in Jewish identity.

Broadway is more than a stage—it’s a living chronicle of American life. And at its core, it will always sing with a Jewish voice.