The Yiddish Theater was hit yesterday with the news that one of its important stars, Feivel Stern, who plays a lead role in the company’s promising new comedy “Ah farbisina Shmagegi,” had asked to be let out of his contract on the production.
The theater company immediately expressed confidence that Mr. Stern would return to the play next weekend. The news came after a whirlwind of negative publicity directed at Mr. Stern for a tirade of anger he unleashed at his agent/lawyer, Jack Weinrand, in a message recorded on a phone answering machine.
Mr. Stern, who is in the midst of a long and bitter royalties battle with designer clothing giant, G&G Chassidishe Malbishim, called his agent/butler “a thoughtless little shvuntz” in the voice mail message, which was leaked to the press last week.
Mr. Stern was upset because his agent/accountant had not called him as arranged. Mr. Weinrand denied leaking the message. In his Der Yid weekly column, Mr. Stern issued an apology for his outburst.
Mr. Stern had shot an ad campaign for the new faux-fur streimels that G&G debuted in their winter ‘08 campaign. Later that month he appeared in a photograph in the Yated page 6 with a streimel made of actual fur. The picture was purportedly leaked by his agent/tailor. He was subsequently sued for breach of contract and lost all rights to the ad revenue.
Mr. Stern contacted the Yiddish Theatre and said he wanted to discontinue his commitment to play. Theatre executives reacted by urging him not to do anything hasty. They said last night that they had no doubt he would remain in the role of Zundel Felkowitz, licensed shoemaker for the remainder of the play’s run.
In an official statement, Weinrand said: “Feivel Stern remains a power player in the Yiddish comedy play genre and I would love to continue to act as his agent/chauffer if given the chance.”
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YIDDISH THEATER STAR PUTS FANS ON SHPILKES
