Summary: One of Broadway's newest arrivals features a singing rabbi, some very far out hippies, and Nina Simone. And surprisingly, it's a true story — for the most part, at least. Soul Doctor tells the tale of Shlomo Carlebach, the Jewish rabbi who spread his teachings through music during the mid-20th century. Neshama Carlebach, the daughter of the late rabbi, and Eric Anderson, who plays Shlomo Carlebach in the new Broadway production, join Soundcheck in the studio. Neshama Carlebach, on whether her father sang Jewish songs specifically: My father used to say — and I believe it so much — that singing is like praying twice. When you're singing a prayer, you're praying twice because of the song, and you have the words of prayer. It allows you to elevate yourself. So yes, he was singing Jewish content and most of the actual words were from liturgy — he wrote English words himself every once in a while. But the point of it was to bring it to the world. Eric Anderson, on preparing to play Shlomo Carlebach: Once I found out I was going to be doing the role, I really researched him. I listened to his recordings. I watched clips of him on YouTube to learn his mannerisms and the way he chuckles. I actually had the beard before. I’ve had a beard most of my time here in New York. I’ve been out here for five years, and between rabbis, pirates, and factory workers, it’s all kept me off the couch. Neshama Carlebach, on her father’s relationship with Nina Simone: They had a close relationship, and I think that she was a big influence on him in terms of thinking beyond himself and opening his eyes. He spoke about her with a lot of love. Whatever it is that connects human beings in this world, he always felt a connection to her.
