Theater News

Benoit-Swan Pouffer to Choreograph the Upcoming Broadway Musical Soul Doctor

Pouffer is the former artistic director of New York City’s Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet.

Benoit-Swan Pouffer
Benoit-Swan Pouffer

Benoit-Swan Pouffer, the acclaimed former artistic director of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, is set to choreograph the upcoming Broadway musical Soul Doctor, which will play the Circle in the Square Theatre beginning July 17, with an official opening on August 15. Book and direction are by Daniel S. Wise, with lyrics by David Schechter.

Soul Doctor follows the life of “Rock Star” Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, from his Nazi Germany escape to his friendship with jazz singer Nina Simone and his rise to fame as a musician in the 1960s playing with the likes of Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. Thirty of Carlebach’s songs provide the score, with music by the Carlebach himself and lyrics by David Schechter.

Eric Anderson will play Shlomo. The cast will also include Amber Iman making her Broadway debut as Nina Simone as well as Jacqueline Antaramian, Dianna Barger, Richard Cerato, Maria Conti, Alexandra Frohlinger, Afra Hines, Abdur-Rahim Jackson, Jamie Jackson, Ethan Khusidman, Dillon Kondor, Zarah Mahler, Vasthy Mompoint, Ron Orbach, Ian Paget, Heather Parcells, Michael Paternostro, JC Schuster, Eric J. Stockton, Ryan Strand, and Teddy Walsh.

Benoit-Swan Pouffer began his position as artistic director at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet in 2005. His career has also included a 7-year tenure with the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, seasons with Donald Byrd/The Group and Philadanco, and leadership of outreach programs in South Africa and Master Classes throughout Europe.

For more information and tickets to Soul Doctor, click here.