THE GETT: One Woman's Creation Myth
by Liba Vaynberg
Ida is recently divorced and trying to recreate herself, even though she still longs for her ex. Or maybe it's the first day of the creation of the world itself, and she’s actually being lured into sin by the false god Baal? The Gett is a funny, painful, swirling exploration of love, Judaism and awkward intimacy; a journey in which the sacred and the divine exist simultaneously and where moms leave overlong voicemails. So maybe it’s the real world today after all…
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Contains adult themes and sexual situations
Saturday, November 11 @ 8pm - Greenhill Condominiums, 1001 City Ave, Wynnewood
Sunday, November 12 @ 7pm - Private Residence in Bala Cynwyd
(address released to ticket holders 48 hours before show)
Saturday, November 18 @ 8pm - Old City Jewish Arts Center
(119 N 3rd Street, Philadelphia)
Sunday, November 19 @ 1pm - Folkshul
SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT!
STAGEBILL
THE GETT: One Woman's Creation Myth
by Liba Vaynberg
Directed by Esther M. Cohen
CAST
Mama - Bobbi Block
Baal -Thomas Geiger
Other Man - Frank Jimenez
Ida - Michaela Shuchman
Liba Vaynberg (PLAYWRIGHT) is a first generation American writer and actor. Bilingual in English and Russian, she studied Molecular Biology & International Studies at Yale before receiving her MFA at Columbia. Her play, THE GETT, was the inaugural commission at Rattlestick with CBE and a 2021 Princess Grace Semi-Finalist. Her play ROUND TABLE premiered at 59E59 (Times Square Chronicles 10 Best Plays of 2019) and was reprised at Tierra Del Sol. Her first play SCHEISS BOOK premiered at the United Solo Festival at Theatre Row where it won Best One-Woman Show as well as the Backstage Magazine Audience Choice Award, and was reprised by Dixon Place, Wild Project (with Wheelhouse) and Stonewall Inn. She is currently a member of the CIVILIANS R&D 2021-2022 Group and collaborating with Dina Vovsi on a commission about Brighton Beach with Working Theater. Other projects include QUEEN'S QUEST, a 2018 SPACE on RYDER FARM finalist and LABA Humor Fellowship selection that was performed with United Solo in 2020. Her plays THE OXFORD COMMA and MIRIAM received educational premieres at Xavier University. Her play with Emily Louise Perkins, THE RUSSIAN & THE JEW, was the recipient of a COJECO BluePrint Fellowship and was produced by the Tank, and her audio play CONTRITION was produced by Refracted Theater Co. She has been published by the LABA JOURNAL and contributes to LILITH MAGAZINE and CANVAS COMPENDIUM.
As an actor, she specializes in the development of new work, off-Broadway and regionally. She is also the co-founder of ANNA & KITTY, INC., a non-profit devoted to female leadership in and through the arts.
Esther M. Cohen (DIRECTOR): is a Philadelphia-based director, dramaturg, and arts educator.Recent favorite projects include directing Small Mouth Sounds at Penn, teaching script analysis at Drexel University, and directing Theatre Ariel's spring 2023 salon. She is an inaugural member of the 2019/20 Roundabout Directors Group, a member of the 2019 Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Corps, and an alumna of the National Theater Institute and the University of Pennsylvania. When she's not making theatre, Esther can be found on a walk with her dog Babka, cultural commentary podcast playing and iced coffee in hand no matter the weather.
Bobbi Block: (Mama) is an actor in both scripted and unscripted work. She founded and was the Producing Artistic Director of Tongue & Groove Spontaneous Theater for 15 years. She co-founded and performs with Barrymore Award recipient ComedySportz Philadelphia. Bobbi teaches Improvisation at Temple and Drexel, and has taught her signature ‘Actors’ Improv’ method around the world. Recently Bobbi appeared in Theatre Ariel’s Amsterdam, and as Agatha in Michael Hollinger’s Incorruptible. Bobbi has an MA in Theater from Villanova, and a BA from UPenn. Bobbi’s other career is a Communication Skills Facilitator and Applied Improv practitioner (bobbiblock.com). This one’s dedicated to my mom.
Thomas Geiger (Baal) is thrilled to make his debut at Theatre Ariel. A recent graduate of Temple University, Tom has spent the past few months working at local regional theatres in the Philadelphia area including Candlelight Theatre, The Centre Theatre, and Arden Theatre Company. His favorite credits include Miles (Tuck Everlasting), Laurie (Little Women), and Georg (Spring Awakening). He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support and the team at Theatre Ariel for their trust. Next Up: Peter and the Starcatcher at Delaware Theatre Company.
Frank Jimenez: (Other Man) is a bilingual actor, screenwriter and director. Theatre Includes: The Glass Menagerie, Backing Track, Red Riding Hood (Arden Theatre Company,) Tamer Tamed, Taming of The Shrew (Shakespeare Clark Park), 72 Miles To Go (Interact Theatre)This Is The Week That Is (1812 Productions), Oedipus El Rey (Teatro Del Sol), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (DelShakes). Training: BFA, UArts
Michaela Schuchman (Ida) is thrilled to be returning to Theatre Ariel after performing in Israel Stories in 2018! She has been performing with Philly-area theaters for nearly two decades. Favorite shows include Indecent at the Arden, Peter and the Starcatcher and Fiddler at the Walnut, Merchant of Venice at Delaware Shakespeare, and Behold Her, Actually, and Airswimming with her own theater company, Half Key. Michaela is also a newly barred attorney after graduating from NYU School of Law this past May. Thanks to Jesse for bringing her back to theater after a law school-induced hiatus, & love to Arijeet.
