Peformance by Prof. Diane Cypkin, Ph.D., and Lena Panfilova
In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month
Molly Picon (1898-1992) was the First Lady of the Yiddish Stage during its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. In this hour-long presentation, part cabaret, part classroom, Diane Cypkin will trace the highlights of Molly’s lengthy career from the Yiddish stage to English-language films through songs popularized by Ms. Picon. As a native Yiddish speaker who has performed in many Yiddish stage productions and who knew Molly Picon, Prof. Cypkin is uniquely able to combine her performance and professorial skills to tell Molly’s story in a way that is both entertaining and educational.
Between singing some of the tangos, waltzes, and fox trots popularized and often co-written by Ms. Picon, Dr. Cypkin weaves in highlights of Molly’s life. These include Molly’s love of the stage that grew from her mother’s work as a seamstress for Yiddish theater actresses and Molly’s serendipitous meeting with Jacob Kalich, the man who would make her a star. Prof. Cypkin also discusses the making of Yankele, Molly’s first Yiddish musical and its successful European tour, culminating in her conquering the New York Yiddish stage in 1923. She then traces Molly’s career to Yidl mitn Fidl, the most successful Yiddish film ever made, to her appearances on Yiddish radio. Dr. Cypkin also tracks Molly’s English language successes from her breakthrough in 1961’s Milk and Honey to her role as Yente the Matchmaker in the 1971 film version of Fiddler on the Roof.
About the artists:
Diane Cypkin is a Professor Emerita at Pace University and presently an adjunct Professor at Hofstra University in the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department. An expert on Molly Picon and the Yiddish stage, Dr. Cypkin curated a well-received exhibition at Lincoln Center on Molly Picon. For several years she was Yiddish Theatre Consultant at the Museum of the City of New York and curated the highly successful exhibition, A Celebration: 100 years of Yiddish Theatre in New York. She has appeared in Yiddish language musicals for more than two decades. In addition, Dr. Cypkin has worked in the English-speaking theatre as both singer and actor in shows at the Soho Repertory Theatre, the New York Theatre Workshop, the Jan Hus Playhouse, and the Three Muses Theatre. She has also directed productions of The World of Sholom Aleichem, The Theatre of Peretz, and Green Fields. She has presented her Molly Picon and Songs of World War II shows throughout the tri-state area. Dr. Cypkin earned her B.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Theater from Brooklyn College and her PhD in Performance Studies from New York University. She is a member of Actors Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA.
Lena Panfilova is a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory. She has performed as a collaborative pianist with many musicians and has given numerous solo and chamber concerts in Russia, across Europe, and in America. A dedicated teacher for many years, Ms. Panfilova is exceptionally proud of her numerous talented students.
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