Soul Doctor tells the story of beloved yet controversial father of popular Jewish music, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, his friendship with legendary jazz singer Nina Simone and the impact they had on American music. Beginning with his childhood escape from Nazi Germany, the show follows Carlebach's surprising journey as he becomes a rabbinical prodigy in America and discovers gospel and soul music through his friendship with Simone. With the “High Priestess of Soul” as his inspiration, Shlomo created a joyous new sound with melodies that fused his spiritual roots with American popular music.

 

Produced Off-Broadway at the Actors' Temple Theater.

 

Book: Daniel Wise

Music and Lyrics: Shlomo Carlebach and David Schechter

Director: Mindy Cooper

Choreographer: Mindy Cooper

Musical Direction: Seth Farber

Orchestrations/Additional Arrangements:  Steve Margoshes

Scenic Design: David Goldstein

Projections: Brad Peterson

Lighting Design: Zach Blane

Costume Design: Tristan Raines

Sound Design: Raymond Schilke

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Reviews and Articles

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" . . . the charming cast, and the rousing, often moving, music of Shlomo Carlebach, whose life story is the basis for this bio-musical directed and choreographed by the very talented Mindy Cooper, are enthralling."

— Stage and Cinema

 

"Mindy Cooper's direction brings a focus that wasn't present before . . ."

— TheaterMania

 

"Ms. Cooper . . . said the post-Broadway marketing targets a Jewish audience. Even so, she added, [the producer] knew he was getting a director who was aiming for universality. . . . [she] said to him: ‘I don’t know how to make a Jewish musical. I just know how to make a musical.’"

— The New York Times