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On Broadway, a Jewish actress takes on the role of a lifetime in Tom Stoppard's play of a lifetime

JL;DR SUMMARY Caissie Levy, a Jewish actress, stars in Tom Stoppard's new Broadway production of "Leopoldstadt," which explores complex themes of Jewish identity and assimilation through the story of a Jewish family in Vienna starting from 1899. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish IdentityViennaTom StoppardLeopoldstadtAssimilationBroadwayHeritageFamily Stories20th Century HistoryCaissie Levy

Places mentioned

New York City, New York, United States
"Levy was talking to me over the phone about the new Broadway production of Leopoldstadt, the play by Tom Stoppard that begins performances Sept. 14 and opens Oct. 2 at the Longacre Theatre."
London, United Kingdom
"The London production of Leopoldstadt won the 2020 Olivier award."
Vienna, Austria
"The play, which won the 2020 Olivier Award in London, begins in 1899 and tells the story of a well-off Jewish family in Vienna (Leopoldstadt is a section of that city) through the first and second world wars and the first half of the 20th century."
Czechia
"Born in Czechoslovakia (he has said he set the play in Vienna so it wouldnt immediately appear to be about him) and named Tom Strussler, he left with his family for Singapore when the Germans invaded."
Canada
"Instead went to Canada. And thats how most of my ancestry ended up in Canada, and why Im Canadian."
Poland
"My great-grandparents all came over in the early 20s from Poland and Russia."
Russian Federation
"My great-grandparents all came over in the early 20s from Poland and Russia."
Argentina
"Many of them ended up in Argentina, many of them ended up in Israel, some went to Australia."
Israel
"Many of them ended up in Argentina, many of them ended up in Israel, some went to Australia."
Australia
"Many of them ended up in Argentina, many of them ended up in Israel, some went to Australia."
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
"Actually, Im from Hamilton just outside of Toronto."

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Cairo Item ID 68714
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Retrieved 2025-11-30 05:31:23 UTC
Curated 2025-11-30 08:30:49 UTC