As Daci Platt wrote on the Kveller website this week,
In the song, from her cabaret show “With a Little Bit of Lox: Broadway’s Bashert,” Benko tells a relatable story of Jewish parenting goals that clashed with her own ambitions: “Oy, my mom thought I should go to med school,” she sings. “She thought I could be a successful MD, but instead I said ‘I’ll get a theater degree.’”
Then, she breaks into a series of familiar Broadway tunes: “Oy what a pain in my tuches,” she belts to the tune of “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’” from “Oklahoma.” She goes on to parody “Annie” and “Guys and Dolls,” throwing in a few Yiddish gems along the way, to appreciative applause — the oh-so-satisfying “if you know, you know” kind of applause.
The concert was put on by Jewish Artists Gathering, an organization that celebrates the intersection of the theater and Jewish communities. Previously, the group has hosted the annual Broadway Community Seder, where Broadway legends perform original songs like “Everything’s Coming Up Moses.”
Enjoy!
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