The Jazz Singer (The Play)

Adapted by David Serero

By: Samuel Raphaelson, David Serero

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The Jazz Singer is a play written by Samson Raphaelson, based on his short story "The Day of Atonement." It opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre in 1925. A highly influential movie adaptation starring Al Jolson was released in 1927. The story: Jackie Rabinowitz, the son of Jewish immigrants, has launched a career as a jazz singer, performing in blackface under the name Jack Robin. His father, a cantor for an Orthodox synagogue on the East Side of Manhattan, disapproves of Jack's choices. In the first act, Jack visits on his father's 60th birthday. They argue, and Jack is thrown out. Jack is preparing for his Broadway debut in the second act, which he expects to be a breakthrough for his career. Jack learns that their father is seriously ill, but at first, he refuses to leave his rehearsals. In the third act, Jack visits his parents' home before his show, but his father has been taken to a hospital, where he dies. Rather than returning to the show, Jack goes to the synagogue to take his father's place for the Yom Kippur services. Adapted for the stage by David Serero.