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August 17, 2009 - 10 Imaginings of Sarah and Hagar!

10 Imaginings - Death of Sarah

Theatre Ariel was represented at the International Festival of Jewish Theatre and Ideas with six performances of 10 Imaginings of Sarah and Hagar between May 24 and June 13, 2009 at the Theatre Three in New York City.

The invitation to perform in this international festival was a wonderful acknowledgment fo the important role Theatre Ariel plays in the development of new works of Jewish theater. By Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer. Directed by Deborah Baer Mozes. With Music by Juliet I. Spitzer. Featuring: Susan Moses (Sarah), Kim Fairbanks (Hagar) and Juliet I. Spitzer (Musician Story Teller).

 

 


August 13, 2009 - Update: Let My People Go!

Free Soviet Jewry

“It was really inspiring to me to hear how people fought for the freedom of others elsewhere ,…. it is right to publicize the good deeds of the past, especially when our world seems so cynical and critical. I'm glad to be involved with the project.” --- Thomas Viola, Temple University

We are capturing in word and on video the personal stories of Philadelphia’s leaders and activists in the Free Soviet Jewry Movement. 16 student oral historians and videographers from Temple University and University of Pennsylvania are presently conducting interviews and will continue to gather stories throughout the summer. These stories will inform a play which we intend to produce in 2010, shining a light on a moment in American Jewish history that for most Americans is an unknown story.

Over the winter, we recruited a multiracial, multiethnic, interfaith team of students to serve as our oral history interns and videographers. The interns were trained in oral history interviewing techniques, learned about history and background to the Free Soviet Jewry movement, and pertinent Jewish concepts and terminology from Dr. Nancy Isserman, Associate Director of Temple University’s Feinstein Center.

Since March, our interns have completed 23 interviews with leaders and participants in Philadelphia’s Free Soviet Jewry Movement. Over the summer we hope to complete at least 25 more interviews.

The students are learning a great deal and finding this process to be invaluable:

“As a non-Jew, I have already benefited substantially by hearing the stories of those involved in the Movement. Their stories are profound and powerful, uplifting and inspiring, to all people. I hope that these stories will be shared with as many people as possible. It is important not just to remember and honor the past, but to inspire and teach future generations. That the Free Soviet Jewry Movement is not common knowledge makes this project even more important.” --- Lisa Hann, Temple University

Support LET MY PEOPLE GO!
Underwrite an interview for 40.00
Underwrite transcribing an interview for $100.00
Underwrite the transferring of an interview to DVD - $100.00
Underwrite part of the playwrights’ commission - $1500
Your support big or small makes a difference!

 

 


March 23, 2009 - One Night to Celebrate!

Jim GardnerSusan LodishJim Gardner of Channel 6 ABC) (left), and special musical guest Nashirah, The Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia honor Theatre Ariel's Susan Lodish (right) and celebrate 18 years of presenting Jewish theater.

The Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia hosted Theatre Ariel's premier performance of WordSmiths, a unique page-to-stage performance that brings theatrical life to the art of Jewish storytelling. The evening also featured Grace Paley's Goodbye and Good Luck and Etgar Keret's For Only $9.99 (Inc.Tax and Postage.) View the invitation


Wordsmith Actors Actors in Theatre Ariel's perfromance of Wordsmiths:
(from left) Roberta Sloan, Gene D'Alessandro, and Alana Gurlad.


 

 


February 14, 2009 - Soviet Jewry Project

Free Soviet Jewry

From 1963 through 1989 hundreds of thousands of Americans engaged in political and grassroots actions to bring about the liberation of Refuseniks, oppressed Soviet Jews whose applications for exit visas had been refused. Theatre Ariel's Let My People Go! project intends to capture in word, on video and on stage the personal stories of Philadelphia's Free Soviet Jewry movement.

Theatre Ariel's production will illuminate the political action taken in kitchens, classrooms, offices, synagogues, and churches throughout the area, that succeeded in achieving the release and freedom of Jews in the Soviet Union. This liberation story is a shining, yet unknown moment in American Jewish history. At a time when young people seek models for change, Theatre Ariel's production will commemorate an era of community activism when individuals like you joined together to change the world.

Theatre Ariel is seeking interns to help with this project:
Interviewers to conduct oral history interviews with former leaders and participants in the Free Soviet Jewry movement (view opportunity), and Videographers to record the oral history interviews with former leaders of the Free Soviet Jewry movement (view opportunity).

 

 


December 3, 2007 - Theatre Ariel 2007 Fundraiser

Photos from the 2007 Theatre Ariel Fundraiser Honoring Adena Potok and Featuring Renowned Entertainer
Theodore Bikel. Accompanied on piano by Tamara Brooks

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Theatre Ariel Board of Directors President, (left) Susan Lodish presenting to Fundraiser Honoree and Board Vice President Adena Potok.
 
Honoree recipient Adena Potok expresses her appreciation
to the audience.
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Deborah Baer Mozes' daughter Marta makes sure she marks
the 2007 Fundraiser in her mind by taking a photo with
Theodore Bikel.
 
(left to right) Susan Lodish, Deborah Baer Mozes, Theodore Bikel, esteemed piano accompanist to Mr. Bikel, Tamara Brooks and Adena Potok are all smiles at the conclusion of the performance.

 

 
     
    ©2009 Theatre Ariel