Amerike – The Golden Land
Closed 1h 30m
Amerike – The Golden Land
81

Amerike – The Golden Land NYC Reviews and Tickets

81%
(98 Ratings)
Positive
90%
Mixed
8%
Negative
2%
Members say
Great singing, Entertaining, Relevant, Delightful, Resonant

About the Show

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents Zalmen Mlotek and Moishe Rosenfeld’s musical, which chronicles Jewish immigration and assimilation.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (98)

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76 Reviews | 25 Followers
100
Ambitious, Clever, Masterful, Must see, Thought-provoking

See it if You like shows from the National Yiddish Theatre

Don't see it if You aren't interested in the subject matter

don
506 Reviews | 1009 Followers
95
Absorbing, Enchanting, Epic, Relevant

See it if wish to see great talent and a masterful story of life in America -The Golden Land as seen/felt by the early 20th century Jewish immigrants.

Don't see it if have trouble with the language. The titles should have been larger and perhaps posted on the sides of the stage. Read more

290 Reviews | 92 Followers
95
Delightful, Exquisite, Funny, Great acting, Great singing

See it if This is a wonderful show about Immigration. It's reminds us that we are a world of many backgrounds and owe it to each other to love all.

Don't see it if If you don't enjoy musicals about other other countries or have a difficult time reading subtitles. See it anyway.

57 Reviews | 10 Followers
94
Thought-provoking, Relevant, Great singing, Intelligent, Profound

See it if you enjoy historical revues particularly american history and the immigrant experience - don't mind shedding a tear at ellis island

Don't see it if you are anti-immigrant, but then you are the ones who should see it to be enlightened to the struggles all our ancestors endured

67 Reviews | 33 Followers
93
Enchanting, Exquisite, Great singing, Thought-provoking

See it if You want to see an extremely entertaining show that will transport you back in time to watch history unfold.

Don't see it if You don’t like reading subtitles as a large portion of the show is in Yiddish. Read more

146 Reviews | 34 Followers
91
Absorbing, Entertaining, Great singing, Relevant, Resonant

See it if You enjoy stirring tales of immigrants in America, well told and sung in Yiddish. Very moving with great music.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy reading supertitles if you don't know Yiddish.

100 Reviews | 9 Followers
90
Great singing, Entertaining, Relevant, Thought-provoking

See it if appreciate talent in service of an important and sometimes lost history. The songs may be Yiddish, but the immigrant story is all of ours

Don't see it if Can't deal with supertitles

510 Reviews | 68 Followers
90
Riveting, Entertaining, Delightful, Nostalgic, Great singing

See it if you know anyone who is an immigrant or has descended from one. Though it tells a Jewish story, it is cross culturally relevant.

Don't see it if subtitles annoy you.

Critic Reviews (17)

The New York Times
August 3rd, 2017

"Toggles between friendly gibes at American culture and somber accounts of past hardships. Revues typically invite more playfulness than 'Amerike' allows, though it finds its heart in moments of self-aware mugging...The musical’s attempts to encapsulate such horrors as the Triangle factory fire in three-minute songs feel rushed and didactic...'Amerike' mostly aims to educate museum-goers and share in nostalgia for Jewish-American culture of yore—and at that it succeeds."
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Time Out New York
July 20th, 2017

"The first two-thirds can feel static...But by the end, when the cast makes a plea for immigration of all kinds, the emotion has grown palpably contemporary...We’re here for deep cuts from the Yiddish songbook, and they don’t disappoint...Bryna Wasserman deftly directs the large, talented ensemble, but the best moments are solos...No nostalgic cobweb can long survive the brave sound of klezmer, played with a full heart and as loud as the clarinet can blow."
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BroadwayWorld
July 10th, 2017

"Weaving incredible stories with fantastic songs, multimedia and choreography, the show creates a dynamic portrayal of the Jewish people who immigrated to the United States...Besides a great history lesson, this was a jam-packed, unforgettable evening of non-stop entertainment...'Amerike' is a beautiful piece of theatre. It's everyone's story...See 'Amerike' for an important reminder that will leave a smile and a song in your heart."
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Lighting & Sound America
July 18th, 2017

“A brisk, funny, and touching musical revue…The judiciously chosen songs powerfully evoke the tumultuous experiences of four very crowded decades…This is a golden opportunity to sample the work of the Yiddish theatre's most prominent songwriters…At this moment, especially, its essentially upbeat account of immigrants and what they contribute to American culture couldn't be more relevant. This, and its abundance of musical riches, make it a more-than-welcome visitor.”
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CurtainUp
July 10th, 2017

"When Jewish immigrants first came to America from Eastern Europe, they thought the streets would be paved with gold...All this and much more is related in National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's wonderful revival...It features a seven-piece klezmer band on stage and a talented cast of 12 singers, dancers and actors who effortlessly take the audience back to a world of hunger and hope."
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Theatre is Easy
July 10th, 2017

"A rousing, if episodic, look back. Stellar performances by 14 actors—we’re talking Broadway caliber—bring the heyday of Yiddishkeit into sharp focus...Bryna Wasserman’s direction is spot-on, and lighting shifts, photographic projections, and quickly changing period costumes enhance the production. That said, this is not a history lesson, and there is not much of a narrative thread holding the 41 song and dance numbers together."
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Theater Pizzazz
August 14th, 2017

"A uniformly superb cast of 12 actors handles the demands of language, song and acting with terrific energy – briskly paced and staged by director Bryna Wasserman...Ultimately full-bodied entertainment, with a wide spectrum of pathos, dramatic substance and comedy...What does the story of the Jews have to do with the rest of us? The answer is: everything. Sure, the revue is entertaining, but beyond that it speaks to the totality of the American experience."
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Front Row Center
July 11th, 2017

"The immigrant experience for people from every land has more similarities than differences. 'Amerike–The Golden Land' manages to capture that brilliantly...A universal and leveling experience, no matter what your ethnic background...Director Bryna Wasserman keeps the pace, places and years moving quickly and recognizably…Even more remarkable are the performances of the cast...This is a show that will please the whole family from 10-year-old Junior to 90-year-old great grandma."
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