Joanne Borts

Joanne Borts is one of New York’s favorite theater and cabaret artists with a catalog that embraces American Standards and the rich traditions of the Yiddish Theatre. Inspired by Fanny Brice, Molly Picon and Bette Midler, this multi-talented Broadway Dynamo delivers a sexy, energetic and humor-filled evening of song and dance that bridges the gap between American musical theatre and her Yiddish roots.

"… Joanne Borts is a sexy combination of Midler and Streisand, audaciously belting her way through her materials." – LA Drama Logue

Ms. Borts has had the good fortune to perform with Neil Sedaka, Theodore Bikel, The Klezmatics, Khevrisa, the Klez Dispensers, the Klezmer Conservatory Band and Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars at such prestigious venues as Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the 92nd Street Y, Joe’s Pub and Carnegie Hall. Her numerous Broadway, off Broadway and National Tour credits include Fiddler on the Roof with Topol, Cinderella with Eartha Kitt, Funny Girl, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, and The Golden Land. Joanne recently co-starred with Bruce Adler in A Yiddish Vaudeville at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and with Mike Burstyn in the critically acclaimed On Second Avenue at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles.

“An unbearably touching moment is the child’s lullaby, “Raisins and Almonds”, soulfully performed by Joanne Borts. When the audience starts spontaneously singing along, it sends a thrill down the spine…” - LA Times

She is also the director, co-author and co-star of Kids & Yiddish, the highly successful annual off-Broadway family show. Joanne has been a member of the teaching faculty at The Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, KlezKamp and KlezKanada, and has appeared at the Monument National Theatre in Montreal and The Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto with The Three Yiddish Divas, a theatrical collaboration with Adrienne Cooper and Theresa Tova. Recording credits include the Milken Archive’s “Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage” with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, “Only In My Dreams” with Deborah Gibson, “Mir Trogn A Gezang”, and “Kids & Yiddish: A Musical Adventure”.

“Joanne Borts, a svelte and stylish Bette Midler may be the only Yiddish actresswho can, and does do cartwheels on stage!” -The Jewish Week

Joanne performs the US National Anthem for Major League Soccer, sings lead vocals on a "Folger's" Holiday jingle and proudly serves as Chair for the Center for Social and Economic Justice on the National Executive Board of the Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring, and on the National Council of Actors’ Equity Association.

“... if my wife wasn’t with me, I would have gone onstage to hug Joanne Borts who is the consummate performer. When she is on stage, the stage is hers. She is also animated, she delivers a song right to your door. This is amagnificent talent!” - The Jewish Express