The award-winning musical artist Ari Axelrod discusses his new album A Place For Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway (PS Classics, 2025), with Joseph Planta.
Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.
There’s a new album that celebrates the contributions of Jewish songwriters to the sound and ethos of the Broadway musical, A Place For Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway. Ari Axelrod, the acclaimed, award-winning musical storyteller joins me now to talk about this album that features his vocals, a thirteen-piece orchestra, and very fine orchestrations by Mike Stapleton of songs by a myriad of composers: Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Mary Rodgers, Bock & Harnick, Jerry Herman, Stephen Schwartz, the Gershwins, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, among others. The music covered in the album range from memorable showtunes we can all hum to lesser-known works; there are also contemporary works, as well as songs that go back to the earlier parts of the twentieth century, even folk and traditional music. It’s such a rich legacy and Mr. Axelrod, who joined me last week, lauds the source material, as well as notes the Jewish influence in the words and music that’s presented so lovingly on the album, which is available this Friday from PS Classics. There’ll be a release concert this Saturday night at New York’s famed 54 Below. And if you’re not able to make it to Manhattan, the event will be available for streaming. Visit www.54below.org for tickets and information. Ari Axelrod’s award-winning show A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway, which is the basis of this album, has been performed to sold-out audiences around the world. He is the recipient of a 36 to Watch award from Jewish Week, a 2022 Bistro Award, and the Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Visit www.ariaxelrod.com for more information. We had done a version of interview you’re about to hear in late December, but because of technical issues at my end, the tape was lost. I thank Ari and his publicist Dan Fortune for making the time to do it again as it were. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Ari Axelrod; Mr. Axelrod, good morning.
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