Neranenah Moves Ahead with New Season

Neranenah, the Atlanta Jewish music and culture series, is deep into its new season of three performances that extend late into the spring. All three acts draw heavily on Jewish musical roots to reinforce their performing careers.

Still, the president of Neranenah’s Board, Jason Feldman, expressed the belief that Neranenah is aimed at a broad community audience.

“We want Atlantans of all backgrounds and beliefs to feel invited into this work,” Feldman said, “because the arts are for everyone. This season reflects that commitment and the joy that comes from sharing music, story, and community.”

As of press deadline, Neranenah was preparing to host “An Evening With Jonah Pratt” at the Studio Theater of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. Pratt weaves together songs from his stage performances with reflections about his personal journey as an advocate for a meaningful Jewish life.

He is best known for his performance as Fiyero Tigilaar, as the charming creation of the Broadway production of “Wicked,” the reimagined musical version of “The Wizard of Oz.” Fiyero’s transformation into the Scarecrow who is attracted to Elphaba, the main character in the show. is an important part of developing production themes.

He’s an essential part of the development of the emphasis the show places on the importance of friendship, identity, and self-expression that is developed among the leading characters.

Some of those same concerns are expressed in his hit weekly podcast, “Being Jewish With Jonah Pratt,” which bills itself as the No. 1 Jewish podcast in North America. It examines what its creator describes as the vast, beautiful, and often unexplored tapestry of Jewish identity.”

His most recent featured an almost hour-long conversation with supermodel Cindy Crawford, who describes herself as a Jewish ally in both her family life and her 27-year marriage to her Jewish husband, businessman Randy Gerber, and as the mother to the couple’s two adult children.

Other recent interviews in the series have been with the prominent writer and philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, who published his best seller, “Israel Alone,” following the events of Oct. 7. He’s also interviewed for a recent program his own wife’s Jewish conversion and her life as a Jewish mother.

Some of what Platt has learned about life in the public eye may have been the result of growing up in the show business world of Hollywood. His father is Marc Platt, a successful producer of such films as “Legally Blonde,” “Into The Woods,” and “La La Land.” His mother, Julie, was the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America, which helps to co-ordinate the work of 146 Jewish charitable federation members.

Participating in the Platt show is Joe Alterman, executive and artistic director of Neranenah. Alterman has just completed a most successful year as a nationally acclaimed jazz composer and pianist. He completed his first ever European series of performances in St. Gallen and Basel, Switzerland, as well as club dates in Paris and London. He’s enthusiastic about Neranenah’s schedule this year.

“These programs showcase how our traditions inspire today’s arts and entertainment scene. We’re providing world-class entertainment while building a platform where people from all backgrounds can gather, reflect, and be inspired.”

Neranenah will also welcome another Broadway star, Julie Benko, and her husband, Jason Yeager, on May 7. She became an overnight sensation when she took over the role of Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of “Funny Girl” in 2022.

She won Theater World’s Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence when she took over the role of Brice after the sudden and unexpected departure from the show by Beanie Feldstein, who opened in the long-awaited revival that first made Barbra Streisand a star in 1964.

She’s currently appearing as Emma Goldman, the Jewish Socialist revolutionary in the Broadway revival of “Ragtime,” based on the E.L. Doctorow novel. Her husband, Jason Yeager, is an award-winning musician and a professor at the Berklee College of Music. Together, they’ll bring an evening of memorable Broadway songs and music that led Benko to be named the New York Times’ Breakout Star of the Year.

In December, Neranenah kicked off its 2025-2026 season with violin virtuoso Ana Pasternak and The Pasternak Family. Their performance featured the music of the family’s Russian Jewish heritage as well as original vocals by Ana, a talented and versatile violinist.

She emigrated from Russian when her family left the country after years of religious persecution. Pasternak is also a graduate of the Berkelee College of Music where she first discovered her talent for songwriting, In recent years, she’s made Nashville her home.