| Saturday Night Seder | |
|---|---|
| Created by | StoryCourse |
| Written by | Alex Edelman (head writer) Hannah Friedman Sas Goldberg Josh Harmon Adam Kantor Michael Mitnick Benj Pasek Mark Sonnenblick |
| Presented by | Jason Alexander |
| Opening theme | Dayenu! |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original languages | English Hebrew |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Erich Bergen Talia Halperin Adam Kantor Benj Pasek[1] |
| Producers | Rebecca Halpern Jen Snow Rachel Sussman |
| Production location | Virtual |
| Editors | Ellen Callaghan Shirley Chan Lindsay Gordon Mark Hall Andrew Keenan-Bolger David Mishler Nick Shakra Khaled Tabbara Kelly Teacher Jake Wilson |
| Camera setup | Videotelephony |
| Running time | 71 minutes |
| Production company | StoryCourse |
| Original release | |
| Network | BuzzFeed YouTube StoryCourse |
| Release | April 11, 2020 (2020-04-11) |
TheSaturday Night Seder was aPassover Seder held on April 11, 2020 by StoryCourse in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic; to provide relief and support to the public in an effort to combat the spread of theCOVID-19 virus. The seder was sponsored byBuzzFeed and aired on theirTastyYouTube channel.[2]
The seder was hosted byJason Alexander on the fourth night ofPassover. The Saturday Seder coincided with theCOVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in many physical seders being canceled throughout the world.[3] The seder aimed to raise funds to benefit theCDC Foundation's Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund. In total, the seder raised more than $2.9 million for charity.[4]
The seder covered the story of theJewish Exodus from Egypt in a humorous light. It featured both Jews and non-Jews.[5]
*Rabbis who appeared in the seder.
| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| "Dayenu!" | |
| Alan Menken | "Kiddush" |
| Ben Platt | "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" |
| Idina Menzel | "Ma Nishtanah" |
| "Go Down Moses" | |
| "When You Believe" | |
| Mark Sonnenblick Shaina Taub Skylar Astin | "Next Year" |
The Saturday Night Seder could be seen onBuzzFeed'sTasty YouTube Channel and was simulcasted on Saturday Night Seder's website and theCDC Foundation's website. In total, more than 1 million people watched the Saturday Night Seder.[6]
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Following its broadcast, the program became notable forCynthia Erivo andShoshana Bean's performance of "When You Believe" from theDreamWorks filmThe Prince of Egypt (1998), an animated depiction of the Exodus story. The song's composer and lyricistStephen Schwartz provided the piano accompaniment. This performance received widespread acclaim as the program's highlight, thanks in part to the song's resurgence in visibility and popularity through the film'sstage musical adaptation, which was running in theWest End and suspended performances in response to the pandemic at the time. This led to Erivo and Bean's rendition receiving a studio recording and being released as a single (alongside the program's closing number "Next Year"), on June 30, 2020, byGhostlight Records. The proceeds from the digital purchases of both songs benefitted theJews for Racial and Economic Justice organization.[7][8][9] Erivo would go on to perform the song with herWicked co-starAriana Grande at the 2024Met Gala and by herself at the 35thNational Memorial Day Concert inWashington, D.C., both in May 2024.[10]
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