culture “A Jewish dog in a Christmas show” The South’s Israeli actor plays Snoopy in “Charlie Brown Christmas Live” Most Comprehensive experience and felt like it was Weekly Jewish E-Newsletter by Lee J. Green Stay Informed Between Print Editions
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Israeli dancer and actor Yochai Greenfeld took a leap of faith moving to New York City a year and a half ago to try and make it in the U.S. as a professional musical theatre actor. Today Greenfeld couldn’t be “dog-gone” happier playing the iconic character Snoopy in “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage,” presented by Broadway in Birmingham and coming to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, for one performance on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. The show will also be at the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola on Dec. 13, Mark Smith Concert Hall in Huntsville on Dec. 18 and The Strand in Shreveport on Dec. 20. “I love being a Jewish dog in a Christmas show,” said Greenfeld. He added the current production now has a Chanukah song in its medley, but it had nothing to do with him being in the cast. “Snoopy is such an icon. He brings joy to kids and adults alike. “I wanted to approach playing Snoopy with humility. He has some very human-like qualities. The challenge is to communicate the character through facial expressions and body language,” said Greenfeld. “What resonates with me is Snoopy’s joy and optimism.” Greenfeld’s mother is from New York City. When she was 21 years old, she made Aliyah and met Greenfeld’s father in Israel. They would go on to have five children. Greenfeld grew up Modern Orthodox in Jerusalem and was very involved with the synagogue. From a young age he also took an interest in dance and musical theatre. He would take classes and perform in productions regularly until he turned 18. After two years in Yeshiva and five years serving in the Israel Defense Force, Greenfeld got back into musical theatre for a year at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, followed by a professional opportunity for two years with the Fresco Dance Company. “I felt this calling that I wanted to try and make it in New York,” said Greenfeld, now 31. “I knew it was a big step, but I have family here and friends through Yeshiva, Birthright Israel and IDF.” He moved to the Big Apple and went on many auditions for three months. He then went back to Israel for a month and decided to change his approach. “I was going on all these auditions just for the
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December 2018 • Southern Jewish Life
more of a testing-the-waters deal,” he said. “When I came back, I was dedicated to making a permanent go of it and auditioning for fewer, select productions I thought might be best suited for me.” Just before Passover of 2017, he got an opportunity with a production in the Washington Fringe Festival. Two cast members in that show also were in “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage.” Greenfeld was encouraged to audition earlier this year and landed the role of Snoopy in the current production, which is touring for six weeks with more than 50 performances. Prior to this production, he played the Cowardly Lion in “Oz” and Pawn in “Gilded.” He said he proudly wears his Jewishness on his sleeve and loves to share traditions, customs as well as religious knowledge with any of his non-Jewish friends who are interested. “They ask about kiddush and some holidays. I live in a Moishe House (with young, professional Jews), so I have invited friends and castmates over for some of our Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations,” said Greenfeld. “I believe that people of faith can relate to each other, no matter what you believe. Friends have told me they were moved by my practice of Judaism.” He observes the Sabbath as much as possible, though with shows usually on Fridays and Saturdays, “showbiz is not a Shabbat-friendly business sometimes.” “I can do things most of the time such as walk to a venue, keep kosher, not be on my phone and just ask friends in the cast to let me know if there are any important show updates,” he said. “I hold on to my faith strongly. I am dedicated to always making it a priority in my life.” Greenfeld’s “life as a Jew changed profoundly when I moved from Israel to the U.S. In Israel, just about everyone is Jewish. It’s more of what sect of Judaism and where your family is from,” he said. “It’s different in America. I feel it’s about creating your own religious identity in a melting pot of faiths,” added Greenfeld. He said he is looking forward to his first trip to Birmingham, and even though the production is only in the Magic City for a weekend, Greenfeld hopes to be able to experience the community. “That is one of the great benefits of doing this,” said Greenfeld. “I enjoy every minute of doing this. Bringing smiles to people’s faces always brings a smile to mine.”