Avi Hoffman

Avi was born 'Avrum Ber', son of Mendl and Miriam Hoffman, in 1958 in The Bronx, NY. A child of Holocaust survivors, Avi was taught at an early age to appreciate the beauty and depth of the Jewish culture, literature, music and tradition. At age 10, he was featured in his first professional production - "Bronx Express" - at the Yiddish Folksbiene Theater on East Broadway. The New York Times review said: "Avremele Hoffman displays a sense of humor."

By 1969 his family had moved to Israel, and over the next 9 years Avi continued to perform in dozens of Hebrew and English plays, as well as two Israeli television series and a film - BLOOMFIELD - directed by and starring Richard Harris. In 1977, he returned to the US and got his BFA in Drama from the U. of Miami, graduating cum laude. He acted in regional theater in Florida, returning to NY in 1980, honing his craft by working for years in JCC's, Y's and senior citizen centers, performing for the elderly who couldn't make it to the theater.

As a stage actor he has performed in several Off-Broadway productions including his hit one man shows TOO JEWISH? & TOO JEWISH TWO!, both of which were highly acclaimed and for which he was named Performer of the Year '95 by NY Press Magazine, as well as receiving the prestigious Los Angeles OVATION award as Best Actor In a Musical 2001 . He was also nominated for both the NY Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. He directed and performed in the Joseph Papp production of SONGS OF PARADISE at the NY Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, which was also featured at major festivals in Munich and Amsterdam. He was seen in the revival of Jerry Herman's MILK AND HONEY, the title role in THE RISE OF DAVID LEVINSKY (opposite Lawrence Luckinbill and Larry Kert), A RENDEZVOUS WITH GOD (his other one-man show), THE GOLDEN LAND and FINKEL'S FOLLIES with the Emmy award winning veteran actor Fyvush Finkel (Picket Fences).

On TV, Mr. Hoffman's Too Jewish? is currently being broadcast nationally on the PBS system. He was featured as 'Teddy Wayne' in the NBC series LAW AND ORDER. He starred in the motion picture -THE IMPORTED BRIDEGROOM, which received critical acclaim nationwide and was featured at the Montreal and Boston Film Festivals. Avi was also seen in the PBS documentary THEY CAME FOR GOOD: A HISTORY OF THE JEWS IN THE U.S.

Regionally, he starred in the Palm Beach Dramaworks production of JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL..., and as Johnny in FRANKIE & JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE at GableStage (Carbonell award nominaton for Best Actor in a Play), he directed and starred in the English revival of SONGS OF PARADISE at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton, and was seen as TEVYE in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (for which he received the Curtain Up award and was nominated for a Carbonell award - Best actor in a musical) and CLOSER THAN EVER at the Hollywood Playhouse , in the world premiere of THE MARRANO (directed by Mark Bramble), and has been featured at the Penguin Repertory Co. in Stony Point, NY - where he performed in THE IMMIGRANT, ONLY THE SKY WAS BLUE and EPIC PROPORTIONS, under the direction of Joe Brancato. In Florida, he has been seen in PERFECT HARMONY - THE BARRY SISTERS STORY, Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, AWAKE AND SING, FORTUNE AND MEN'S EYES, SLY FOX and DEAR WORLD.

In the music and recording industry, Avi was the lead singer of the 10 piece Don Byron Klezmer Orchestra (Elektra/Nonesuch). Playing the music of Mickey Katz, they have performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brian (NBC), at Avery Fisher Hall, Summerstage in Central Park, the Montreal, Quebec and JVC Jazz Festivals as well as 2 major European tours.

His other directorial credits include the Off-Broadway productions of BETWEEN A & B, SHEPHERD - a new musical at the Village Gate, JUNKYARD - a new musical at AMAS Musical Theater and BULLS AND BEARS at the Quaigh Theater. Regionally he has directed the world premiere of POKERFACES AND CASTANETS at the Odyssey Theater and KING OF SCHNORRERS at the Westwood Playhouse, both in Los Angeles, as well as LUCID MOMENTS, ANNE FRANK & ME, FORTUNE AND MENS EYES and THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND in South Florida.

As the artistic director of 'The New Raft Theater Company' in New York, Avi was responsible for the development and production of several projects as well as dozens of staged readings at the Houseman Theater and the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center. As the artistic director of the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theater, Avi promoted and preserved the rich heritage of the Yiddish language and culture through original theatrical productions.

He is very proud to be the founder and executive director of the not for profit, National Center for Jewish Cultural Arts, Inc., where he continues to produce many high quality Jewish cultural events and programming.