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What Can You Do for People in Crisis? Put on a Seder Show What Can You Do for People in Crisis? Put on a Seder Show
(3 days later)
Like pretty much everybody in America blessed with good health these days, the actor Jason Alexander and his wife, the artist Daena Title, have been stuck at home, worried about their relatives, their friends and a nation whose future is uncertain.Like pretty much everybody in America blessed with good health these days, the actor Jason Alexander and his wife, the artist Daena Title, have been stuck at home, worried about their relatives, their friends and a nation whose future is uncertain.
“We all want to try to do something, anything,” Alexander said. But what?“We all want to try to do something, anything,” Alexander said. But what?
About a week ago, he found an answer, in an email from Benj Pasek, the lyricist who helped create the songs for the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” as well as the movies “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land,” which earned him a share in an Academy Award.About a week ago, he found an answer, in an email from Benj Pasek, the lyricist who helped create the songs for the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” as well as the movies “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land,” which earned him a share in an Academy Award.
The songwriter’s pitch to Alexander was this: “Would you be interested in being a part of an all-star online Seder fund-raiser that will raise money for the C.D.C. Foundation?”The songwriter’s pitch to Alexander was this: “Would you be interested in being a part of an all-star online Seder fund-raiser that will raise money for the C.D.C. Foundation?”
This was something Alexander could do.This was something Alexander could do.
On Tuesday, his wife arranged lighting in their dining room and held an iPhone as he rehearsed an original musical number, which they then recorded. He sang:On Tuesday, his wife arranged lighting in their dining room and held an iPhone as he rehearsed an original musical number, which they then recorded. He sang:
“So you’re stressed by all the stories that you’ve seen on cable news? Well, it’s time to trade the cable for a tableful of Jews. While this night is always different from every other night, there is a smidgen of religion though we’re keeping that part light. Tonight is stranger than a normal Pesach meal, ’cause we’re locked in our apartment and the plagues are [expletive] real.”“So you’re stressed by all the stories that you’ve seen on cable news? Well, it’s time to trade the cable for a tableful of Jews. While this night is always different from every other night, there is a smidgen of religion though we’re keeping that part light. Tonight is stranger than a normal Pesach meal, ’cause we’re locked in our apartment and the plagues are [expletive] real.”
“Nailed it!” said Erich Bergen, a star of “Madam Secretary” who, of late, has become a go-to technical producer for logistically complicated endeavors, like the recent fund-raising, one-night return of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” (He was in Alexander’s dining room too, thanks to Zoom. But actually, he was sitting at a desk in front of his unmade bed in his apartment in Harlem.)“Nailed it!” said Erich Bergen, a star of “Madam Secretary” who, of late, has become a go-to technical producer for logistically complicated endeavors, like the recent fund-raising, one-night return of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” (He was in Alexander’s dining room too, thanks to Zoom. But actually, he was sitting at a desk in front of his unmade bed in his apartment in Harlem.)
“Let’s do one more take,” Title said. She later explained, with a little panic, that she hadn’t actually hit the record button. Such are the dramas inherent in producing a show that relies on iPhones and dozens of performers — including Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Judith Light, Tan France, Harvey Fierstein, Idina Menzel and Sarah Silverman — who are all in different places.“Let’s do one more take,” Title said. She later explained, with a little panic, that she hadn’t actually hit the record button. Such are the dramas inherent in producing a show that relies on iPhones and dozens of performers — including Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Judith Light, Tan France, Harvey Fierstein, Idina Menzel and Sarah Silverman — who are all in different places.
The result — God willing, because as of this writing it’s nowhere near done — will be “Saturday Night Seder.” It’s an original telling of the Passover story meant to entertain and bring together a mainstream audience for a few laughs, a bit of joy and some unavoidable reflections on the human capacity for transcendence amid danger and chaos. It will be streamed on the “Saturday Night Seder” website and on YouTube at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, April 11. (With some words beeped out, it’s PG-13 family viewing.)The result — God willing, because as of this writing it’s nowhere near done — will be “Saturday Night Seder.” It’s an original telling of the Passover story meant to entertain and bring together a mainstream audience for a few laughs, a bit of joy and some unavoidable reflections on the human capacity for transcendence amid danger and chaos. It will be streamed on the “Saturday Night Seder” website and on YouTube at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, April 11. (With some words beeped out, it’s PG-13 family viewing.)
“The Passover holiday is literally a story of going from confinement to freedom and from winter to spring,” said Pasek, who a few years ago teamed with the Broadway performer Adam Kantor to reimagine the biblical story of exodus for more than 100 people in New York.“The Passover holiday is literally a story of going from confinement to freedom and from winter to spring,” said Pasek, who a few years ago teamed with the Broadway performer Adam Kantor to reimagine the biblical story of exodus for more than 100 people in New York.
This year, amid the health crisis of Covid-19, rising unemployment and near-nationwide quarantine, Pasek and Kantor knew they needed to dip into their creative circles of colleagues, friends and friends of friends (of friends) to help share the story, with all its modern resonances, with a much larger audience. And to raise money while doing so.This year, amid the health crisis of Covid-19, rising unemployment and near-nationwide quarantine, Pasek and Kantor knew they needed to dip into their creative circles of colleagues, friends and friends of friends (of friends) to help share the story, with all its modern resonances, with a much larger audience. And to raise money while doing so.
“At the Seder table, we ask ourselves, ‘What can you do for people who are suffering because you once suffered?’” Pasek said. “We want to amplify that message because it is one of hope and also one that asks people to give of themselves however they can.”“At the Seder table, we ask ourselves, ‘What can you do for people who are suffering because you once suffered?’” Pasek said. “We want to amplify that message because it is one of hope and also one that asks people to give of themselves however they can.”
Kantor, whose sister-in-law is a new mother and a nurse practitioner caring for Covid-19 patients at Bellevue Hospital in New York, helped write songs and wrangle actors, and he is overseeing the fund-raising drive to benefit the C.D.C. Foundation. “We want to support the front lines,” he said.Kantor, whose sister-in-law is a new mother and a nurse practitioner caring for Covid-19 patients at Bellevue Hospital in New York, helped write songs and wrangle actors, and he is overseeing the fund-raising drive to benefit the C.D.C. Foundation. “We want to support the front lines,” he said.
The “Saturday Night Seder” team, including the writers Alex Edelman and Hannah Friedman; musical arrangers like Charlie Rosen and Ben Wexler; and the composer Shaina Taub, among many others, had about two weeks to put it together, using Slack, Dropbox, Zoom and a color-coded Google Sheet full of Talmudic detail that producers like Talia Halperin used to manage the rehearsal and taping availability of rabbis, writers and Fran Dreschers.The “Saturday Night Seder” team, including the writers Alex Edelman and Hannah Friedman; musical arrangers like Charlie Rosen and Ben Wexler; and the composer Shaina Taub, among many others, had about two weeks to put it together, using Slack, Dropbox, Zoom and a color-coded Google Sheet full of Talmudic detail that producers like Talia Halperin used to manage the rehearsal and taping availability of rabbis, writers and Fran Dreschers.
Everyone is doing every job. “At one point,” Bergen said, “I found myself writing a letter to Oprah to see if she could participate, and then a minute later I was editing a video of a drag queen saying, ‘Yas, Passover!’ so it runs the gamut. If we pull it off — and that’s an if — it will be a miracle.”Everyone is doing every job. “At one point,” Bergen said, “I found myself writing a letter to Oprah to see if she could participate, and then a minute later I was editing a video of a drag queen saying, ‘Yas, Passover!’ so it runs the gamut. If we pull it off — and that’s an if — it will be a miracle.”
The first week of April, the creators met in a Zoom writers room for about 18 hours a day, piecing together a program that would have elements of awards shows, television variety specials and Broadway revues. This week, they worked directly with the talent, watching them rehearse and film the various elements while providing tech support to some people whose many gifts don’t include knowing how to upload files to the cloud.The first week of April, the creators met in a Zoom writers room for about 18 hours a day, piecing together a program that would have elements of awards shows, television variety specials and Broadway revues. This week, they worked directly with the talent, watching them rehearse and film the various elements while providing tech support to some people whose many gifts don’t include knowing how to upload files to the cloud.
Most every recording session brought one technical glitch or another. The actor and singer Josh Groban was relying on his iPad both to communicate with the producers on Zoom and to listen to the instrumental version of the track he was singing to. He needed to quit the Zoom app to make his recording.Most every recording session brought one technical glitch or another. The actor and singer Josh Groban was relying on his iPad both to communicate with the producers on Zoom and to listen to the instrumental version of the track he was singing to. He needed to quit the Zoom app to make his recording.
Before Groban left the Zoom room to sing and record himself, the producers gave him direction, including a request that when citing the Passover song “Chad Gadya,” as his bit calls on him to do, that he pronounces “chad” with a throat-clearing cccchhh.Before Groban left the Zoom room to sing and record himself, the producers gave him direction, including a request that when citing the Passover song “Chad Gadya,” as his bit calls on him to do, that he pronounces “chad” with a throat-clearing cccchhh.
Updated August 12, 2020 Updated August 17, 2020
Groban went offline to do his thing, then returned to Zoom and shared his recording with the group. He sounded like a cantor, cccchhh and all. (Groban was not raised Jewish, but like many of the other men involved in “Saturday Night Seder,” he played Tevye in a school production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”)Groban went offline to do his thing, then returned to Zoom and shared his recording with the group. He sounded like a cantor, cccchhh and all. (Groban was not raised Jewish, but like many of the other men involved in “Saturday Night Seder,” he played Tevye in a school production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”)
Rachel Brosnahan is also not a Jew, but she plays one on TV. Just as Mrs. Maisel might do, Brosnahan found the bright side of having to film her contribution from home.Rachel Brosnahan is also not a Jew, but she plays one on TV. Just as Mrs. Maisel might do, Brosnahan found the bright side of having to film her contribution from home.
In the song she will sing for the show, she tells people not to worry if this year they lack the foods typically placed on a Seder plate.In the song she will sing for the show, she tells people not to worry if this year they lack the foods typically placed on a Seder plate.
As Brosnahan practiced the lyrics — “If you’re out of greens and table salt, well, don’t you fret my dears. Just use a stick of celery to wipe away your tears” — she burst with an idea of her own.As Brosnahan practiced the lyrics — “If you’re out of greens and table salt, well, don’t you fret my dears. Just use a stick of celery to wipe away your tears” — she burst with an idea of her own.
“I have a stick of celery!” she told the producers and bound into her kitchen to fetch it. On the next take, she brushed the stalk across her face as if to dry a tear, and punctuated the end of her line with a crunchy bite.“I have a stick of celery!” she told the producers and bound into her kitchen to fetch it. On the next take, she brushed the stalk across her face as if to dry a tear, and punctuated the end of her line with a crunchy bite.
Some of the actors were already Zoom proficient. Henry Winkler, who narrates the Moses story, has been zooming with his children and grandchildren the past three Sundays.Some of the actors were already Zoom proficient. Henry Winkler, who narrates the Moses story, has been zooming with his children and grandchildren the past three Sundays.
When he was approached to take part in the production by Kantor, whom Winkler didn’t know but with whom he had posed for a photo after seeing Kantor perform in “The Band’s Visit” on Broadway, he agreed immediately and asked to be given a part that let him reflect on the meaning of Passover in this particular time in history.When he was approached to take part in the production by Kantor, whom Winkler didn’t know but with whom he had posed for a photo after seeing Kantor perform in “The Band’s Visit” on Broadway, he agreed immediately and asked to be given a part that let him reflect on the meaning of Passover in this particular time in history.
“As a citizen, even more than as a Jew,” Winkler said, “I thought it was our responsibility to tell the story as it has been told for over 5,000 years, because it’s a story about survival and renewal.”“As a citizen, even more than as a Jew,” Winkler said, “I thought it was our responsibility to tell the story as it has been told for over 5,000 years, because it’s a story about survival and renewal.”