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Three members of Congregation Neve Shalom have banded together to put on a show to benefit their cause -- sounds like an old movie that might star Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney -- but "They Changed Broadway: From Berlin to Bernstein and Beyond" is coming to a theater near you.

The show chronicles American musical theater and is written by Michael Colby. Colby and Hope Feratelli are producing the show, which will be performed at 4 p.m. June 13 at fellow Neve Shalom member Peter Lowy's Forum Theater, on Main Street in Metuchen. Colby is a lyricist who recently wrote lyrics for "Meester Amerika," a show about Yiddish Theater.

"They Changed Broadway" evokes stars such as Barbra Streisand, Al Jolson, Zero Mostel, and Fanny Brice as well as those who created the art form such as Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, and Jonathan Larson ("Rent"), spotlighting classic musicals ranging from "Guys and Dolls" to "Wicked".

Colby's narrative adds snippets to each song such as how "West Side Story" originally was to have been a story of interfaith romance between a Catholic and a Jew. Then it was decided to change the two groups to street gangs as a way to make the theme more contemporary, he said.

One of the lesser-known works in the show is titled "Betsy". The original Broadway show was about a Jewish mother trying to marry off a couple of daughters. But the original director thought it lacked something and got Irving Berlin to add a song -- and "Blue Skies" was written, Colby said telling just one of the many anecdotes in his repertoire of theater history.

"I always wanted to write a show about the contributions of Jews to the world of musical theater," he said. So it was a perfect shidduch when synagogue officials expressed the desire for a benefit show using Broadway talent. "I've been a writer, a lyricist, and a theater historian. I've always felt musical."

The show pays homage to artists many younger audiences may not know, but who are important parts of American musical history, Colby said. He knows because he researched much of it while working with Lorenz Hart's siblings on a biography of the famous lyricist who worked with Rogers. And he lived theater history, meeting and speaking with singers, composers, and writers who frequented his grandparents' Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan.

"This is my childhood," Colby said. During the show "the audience is watching the evolution of an American art form. Cole Porter used to say the secret to his success as that we 'wrote Jewish'."

The show is more than just a fund-raiser to Colby.

"My wife reads Torah every week (at the synagogue) and I'm not as good at that, but I can do this," Colby said as he explained why he's donating his time and talent to the benefit efforts. "I've been involved in other Neve theatricals. There's a great sense of camaraderie at Neve. It's my synagogue, I've worked on many of the special events there... it has a personal place in my heart."

Those slated to star include Broadway veterans, Leah Horowitz, Jonathan C. Kaplan, Neva Small, and Stuart Zagnit. The show will be directed by Michael Goldfried, with continuity by Michael Colby, musical direction by Michael Lavine, and casting by Daryl Eisenberg.

Among her credits, Horowitz has appeared on the Great White Way in "Les Miserables" and "La Cage Aux Folles." Kaplan received a Theater World Award and Tony nomination as "Jason" in "Falsettos" and played "Peter" opposite Natalie Portman and Linda Lavin in "The Diary of Anne Frank". Small -- whose Broadway credits include "Something's Afoot" -- played Chava in the film version of "Fiddler on the Roof". Zagnit received critical acclaim in the title role of Kuni-Leml and originated roles on Broadway in "Seussical".

For tickets or reservations visit: http://theychangedbroadway.blogspot.com/p/ticket-information.html. For more information, call (732) 548-2238 ext. 24.