JSF: A history of the Jewish Theater in Buenos Aires

Paula Ansaldo, University of Buenos Aires, gives a lecture about the History of the Jewish Theater in Buenos Aires: From the star system to the Idisher Folks Teater (1930-1960).

During the first decades of the twentieth century, a large population of Yiddish-speaking Jews settled in Buenos Aires escaping from European hard living conditions and anti-Semitism. As a result, a rich Yiddish cultural life began to grow and Buenos Aires became one of the main centers of Yiddish theater between 1930 and 1960. In this talk, Paula Ansaldo will explore the development of the Jewish Theater in Argentina, giving special attention to the history of the Idisher Folks Teater (IFT): the first Jewish theater company formed by local actors and actresses that performed in Buenos Aires on a regular basis.