Mark Kennedy

Sheldon Harnick accepts the special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the Theatre at the Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre on June 12, 2016, in New York (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

June 23, 2023, 9:14 pm

Sheldon Harnick, award-winning lyricist of ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ dies aged 99

Also penned the words for ‘Fiorello!’ and ‘The Apple Tree’; actor Jackie Hoffman: ‘Like all brilliant persnickety lyricists he was a pain in the tuchus’

By Mark Kennedy

Ben Platt in character as Leo Frank from the Broadway musical "Parade." (Emilio Madrid/DKC/O&M via AP)

February 28, 2023, 3:25 am

Broadway musical ‘Parade,’ Jewish star fight antisemitism both onstage and off

Ben Platt leads in true story of Leo Frank, a Jew who was lynched in Atlanta in 1915, as US contends with new wave of Jew-hatred, including neo-Nazi protest outside of show

By Mark Kennedy

Jonah Hill, left, and Lauren London in a scene from 'You People.' (Courtesy: Netflix)

January 26, 2023, 11:15 am

Star-crossed lovers tackle Black-white, Jewish-Muslim divides in ‘You People’

Netflix film starring Jonah Hill and Lauren London is a rom-com with teeth that doesn’t shy away from airing long-simmering cultural grievances

By Mark Kennedy

A scene in the production "Indecent," telling the story of a controversial 1923 Yiddish play which featured Broadway's first lesbian kiss. (YouTube screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

January 11, 2023, 10:26 pm

Free speech advocates slam Florida school for nixing Jewish LGBTQ play

‘Indecent’ tells true story of 1923 Yiddish show which featured controversial first lesbian kiss on Broadway; county spokesperson calls its dialogue ‘inappropriate’ for students

By Mark Kennedy

A scene from 'Rogue Heroes,' a TV series about the origin of Britain’s elite Special Air Service, which premiered November 13, 2022, on Epix. (Screenshot: YouTube; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

November 17, 2022, 8:41 pm

TV series ‘Rogue Heroes’ explores chaotic, desert-based Nazi-busting WWII unit

Britain’s elite Special Air Service was created by misfits who eschewed traditional military hierarchy and conducted daring attacks on Nazi convoys in North Africa

By Mark Kennedy

This image released by Peacock shows Jeff Wilbusch, right, in a scene from "The Calling." (Heidi Gutman/Peacock via AP)

November 11, 2022, 3:46 am

New crime show ‘The Calling’ tells story of a religious Jewish detective

Based on books by Israeli Dror Mishani, Peacock-streaming version puts Avraham Avraham, who quotes from the Torah, at forefront amid new spasm of antisemitism

By Mark Kennedy

FILE - Lea Michele arrives at the 75th annual Tony Awards in New York on June 12, 2022. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

September 12, 2022, 9:29 am

Lea Michele to miss ‘Funny Girl’ performances after catching COVID

Jewish actress due back September 20 to star in musical about New York Jewish girl who went from burlesque to Broadway stages in the 1920s

By Mark Kennedy

Vivien Epstein in a scene from 'Ridley Road,' a four-part series that makes it's US debut May 1 on PBS's 'Masterpiece.' (Video screenshot)

April 30, 2022, 2:24 am

Heading to US, Jewish tale ‘Ridley Road’ sees woman infiltrate UK neo-Nazi group

Writer Sarah Solemani: ‘We like to think of history as good guys and bad guys. We were the good guys, Hitler was a bad guy, he died and that was the end of it. And it’s not true’

By Mark Kennedy

A woman self-tests for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site in Whittier, California, January 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

February 5, 2022, 6:45 am

US deaths from COVID hit 900,000, accelerated by Omicron

Toll compiled by Johns Hopkins shows number of Americans killed by coronavirus is greater than population of major cities like Indianapolis, San Francisco

By Mark Kennedy and Ken Sweet

Combination photo of the cast of 'As We See It.' (Ali Goldstein/Amazon via AP)

January 20, 2022, 9:09 am

Amazon remake of Israeli show ‘On the Spectrum’ to hit screens

‘As We See It’ follows a trio of autistic young people — all played by actors on the spectrum — as they negotiate daily life and are looked after by a neurotypical aide

By Mark Kennedy

Then-US president Barack Obama (right) presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to composer Stephen Sondheim during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on November 24, 2015, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

November 27, 2021, 7:21 pm

Perfectionist. Genius. Icon. That was Stephen Sondheim

The theatrical giant, who died Friday at 91, was as complex as his lyrics — a driven, obsessive purist, and his own worst critic

By Mark Kennedy

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim poses after being awarded the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony at the Guildhall in London, on Sept. 27, 2018. Sondheim, the songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century, has died at age 91 on Nov. 26, 2021, at his home in Roxbury, Conn. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

November 27, 2021, 1:15 am

Stephen Sondheim, a giant of American musical theater, dies at 91

Born to a NY Jewish family, composer is credited with pushing the musical into a darker, richer and more intellectual place with works like ‘Company,’ ‘Follies’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’

By Mark Kennedy

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators assault Jews at a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles, on May 19, 2021. (Screen capture: Twitter)

May 23, 2021, 4:00 am

Suspect arrested in pro-Palestinian assault on Jews in Los Angeles

Man held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, following anti-Semitic attack on diners; increased bail requested ‘due to the crime being motivated by hatred’

By Mark Kennedy

Christopher Plummer arrives at the Oscars on March 4, 2018, in Los Angeles. Plummer, the dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film “The Sound of Music” and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award winner in history, has died. He was 91. Plummer, the dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film “The Sound of Music” and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award winner in history, has died. He was 91. Plummer died Friday morning, Feb. 5, 2021, at his home in Connecticut.. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

February 5, 2021, 11:17 pm

Christopher Plummer, actor who defied the Nazis in ‘Sound of Music,’ dies at 91

Actor became a star playing Captain von Trapp, yet preferred playing character parts during his storied career and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award winner

By Mark Kennedy

This image released by NBC shows actor Dustin Diamond as Samuel Powers, better known as Screech" from the 1990's series "Saved by the Bell." Diamond died Monday after a three-week fight with carcinoma, according to his representative. He was 44. Diamond was hospitalized last month in Florida and his team disclosed later he had cancer. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank via AP)

February 2, 2021, 1:04 am

Dustin Diamond, Screech on ‘Saved by the Bell,’ dies at 44

Jewish actor rose to fame playing a quirky, nerdy character on the hit ’90s sitcom and three spinoffs, was recently diagnosed with aggressive form of cancer

By Mark Kennedy