On the heels of their hit musical based on the song “Copacabana”, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award winning entertainer Barry Manilow teamed up once again with friend and lyricist Bruce Sussman to create “Harmony” – a musical based on a real group of comedic performers in 1920’s Germany.
It has been 20 years since the duo first composed the musical; next year, it will finally make its debut on the Off-Broadway stage by The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
Presented in English, previews will begin on February 11 with the official opening on March 4 and running until March 29.
The Comedian Harmonists were a smash hit on stage but when they included Jewish performers, things took a decided turn for the worse.
NYTF artistic director Zalmen Mlotek spoke on the musical saying, “it’s important that their story about the human spirit during the darkest of times be told. Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman have created a show that speaks to the best and worst of humanity.”
Manilow himself spoke on the musical finally coming to the New York stage saying,”’Harmony’ is finally being presented and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I am very proud we have found a perfect home for this labor of love of over 20 years.”
During the 1990’s “Harmony” was presented in Atlanta and Los Angeles. The LA production earned a Drama Critics Circle Award.