#Newsflash | Musical Retells Romance Between Catholic Priest and Jewish Cantor
Art imitates life.
Wisconsin resident Bill McBride was a Catholic priest with a love of acting when he met Irene Failenbogen, an Argentine Jew, in 1996. The love story that unfolded was like something from a Broadway musical.
Hey, great idea.
The married couple will perform Oy Father at Maple Grove Cemetery’s Celebration Hall in Kew Gardens on Sunday, March 26, at 2 pm.
Written by McBride with original music by Failenbogen, this roughly-90-minute play recounts how he answered an ad for singing lessons while studying acting at New York University in 1996. She was the teacher — after a recent move from Buenos Aires to Long Island.
The relationship began with lessons for a few months until McBride had to return to Wisconsin. A bit later, he went to New York to hear her sing at a Passover service. Then, he invited her to perform at his church.
A kiss led to McBride leaving the priesthood, and they got married a few months later in 1998.
Their union led to a house in Eastern Queens and two sons, Michael and Nathan, who were raised in the Jewish faith. Not surprisingly, both are entertainers. (Michael went to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, while Nathan chose Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.)
Currently, McBridge and Failenbogen are ordained interfaith ministers and Co-Directors of Religious Education at Long Island’s Brookville Multifaith Campus. She’s also the cantor at the New Synagogue of Long Island.
Admission to Oy Father is free, but donations are accepted. A reception follows the performance.
Patrons should enter Maple Grove via the gate at Kew Gardens Road and 129th Street. There’s free parking on the cemetery grounds.
The show is dedicated to Brooklyn native Harry J. Sutcliffe (1925-1987), a blind reverend who is at eternal rest in Maple Grove. In addition to leading the Episcopal Guild for the Blind and serving on the National Council on Disability, he taught Hebrew and Hebrew Braille to sightless Jews.
Images: Courtesy of Carl Ballenas
