The Essence: A Yiddish Theatre Dim Sum

Witty, fast-paced, and unapologetically irreverent, The Essence: A Yiddish Theatre Dim Sum is a genre-bending theatrical revue that delivers a crash course in Yiddish stage history—with zero nostalgia and maximum laughs. Created by and starring Allen Lewis Rickman and Yelena Shmulenson, with live musical accompaniment by Steve Sterner, this 83-minute performance distills 150 years of Yiddish theatre into a whirlwind of sharp sketches, cheeky songs, and lovingly crafted satire.

From absurd Soviet rock musicals to Einstein’s imaginary debate with a theater critic, this is Yiddish culture like you’ve never seen it—multilingual, madcap, and unexpectedly relevant. Performed in Yiddish and English with supertitles throughout, The Essence makes a compelling case for the enduring genius and joy of a theatrical tradition that once rivaled Broadway in size and scope.

Whether you’re a lifelong Yiddish aficionado or just Yiddish-curious, this two-show run invites you to laugh, learn, and revel in a rich cultural legacy—served dim sum–style, in bite-sized theatrical delights.

Program Produced by The Weitzman in partnership with Theatre Ariel.

About the Artists

Allen Lewis Rickman is an actor, playwright, director, and Yiddish theater scholar whose credits include Broadway (Relatively Speaking), television (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Boardwalk Empire), and the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-nominated film A Serious Man, in which he performed entirely in Yiddish. Rickman is known for bringing scholarly depth and comedic edge to his work, especially in reviving and reimagining classic Yiddish repertoire.

Yelena Shmulenson is a Belarus-born, New York–based actor whose performances span film, television, and stage. She is perhaps best known for her unforgettable role in the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man, appearing in the film’s fully Yiddish-language prologue opposite Rickman. She has also appeared in Orange Is the New Black, Boardwalk Empire, and on stages around the world, earning acclaim for her linguistic agility and magnetic presence.

Steve Sterner is a veteran musical director, pianist, and actor, widely recognized as the resident accompanist for Film Forum’s celebrated silent film series. With deep roots in musical theater and an encyclopedic knowledge of Yiddish tunes, Sterner’s live accompaniment provides both comedic timing and emotional texture to the performance.

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