In this powerful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years, 13) joins Jonah for a raw and thought-provoking conversation about what it means to be Jewish in American theater today. From the complexities of Jewish pride and representation to the discomfort he feels being labeled “America’s greatest Jewish composer,” Jason opens up like never before.
The two dive into Jason’s legendary career, exploring the cultural impact of his shows and how Jewish themes have shaped and challenged his work. Jason shares intimate reflections on his relationships with Broadway icons Hal Prince and Alfred Uhry, the artistic tension between creative integrity and commercial success, and how he’s always felt like an outsider, even within the institutions and communities where he “should” feel at home.
If you care about Broadway, authentic storytelling, identity, or what it means to stay rooted as an artist in turbulent times, this episode will challenge and inspire you.
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Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Patrick Edwards); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell
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