Chaim's Love Song opened Off Broadway in New York, August 18, 1998, at the Raymond Greenwald Theater, home of the American Jewish Theater. The New York Times review called the play a "rich affecting drama," that "balances wit and grave wisdom gracefully," and is "a funny, philosophical, lovely evening." The play closed February 14, 1999 after a run of 208 performances.
Chaim's Love Song subsequentally ran for 144 performances at the Stage Door Theater in Coral Springs, Florida.
Chaim's Love Song has had long runs in Miami and Chicago, as well as in other theaters in Canada, Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Connecticut, and other places.
Chaim's Love Song originally played for 5 months at the Bitter Truth Theater in North Hollywood, California. This production earned the playwright the Valley Theater League's ADA (Artistic Director's Award) for best original comedy of 1998 and the producers the best original production award for 1998.
Chaim's Love Song was given celebrity readings, starring first Shelley Berman at the West Coast Jewish Theater, and, later, Ed Asner at the L.A. West Side Jewish Community Center.
The description of the play from the Samuel French Catalog: Chaim's Love Song, (Little Theatre.) Dramatic comedy. Marvin Chernoff. 3 males, 4 females. Unit set. Chaim Shotsky, a retired mailman in Brooklyn, is an American Tevye who tells his life story to Kelly Burke from Iowa. His exotic tale is rich with vitality. His friends include a philosophical baker, a Holocaust survivor with many secrets, his son and daughter, a matchmaker to end all matchmakers, movie star pigeons, and a host of Israelis. Chaim's story, a love song for life, is one of innocence, tragedy, struggle, humor, humanity and ultimately triumph. "Rich and affecting...A funny, philosophical evening." -- N.Y. Times. "A lilting family drama." -- Entertainment Weekly. "A work brimming with rich ethnic humor." -- Suburban Town News. "Genuinely touching...Sold out for weeks to come." -- L.A. Times. "Will touch everyone's heart." -- Long Beach Press Telegram. $6.00. (Royalty $60-40) #4964
Chaim's Love Song is available through by Samuel French and is represented by The Tantleff Office, 375 Greenwich Street, Suite 700, NY, NY, 10036, 1-212-941-3939.