Stage One – English Speaking Theater Festival will take place from March 27-29, 2013, at Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem. Now in its 4th edition, the festival brings a diverse array of plays in English to one great venue, under the artistic direction of Rafi Poch, produced by Tamar Akov. The program will feature plays, improv and a monologue competition, as well as music performances. Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the door.
The exhibition Reap in Joy: The Harvest Festivals on Kibbutz, will be on display throughout the festival, with tours of the exhibition guided by Rachel Afarsemon on March 27th at 16:30, and March 29th at 10:30, admission free.
A comic take on the theme “iJewish” is the subject for this year’s Beit Avi Chai’s “Stage One” Jewish Monologue Contest. The ten finalists will compete for the 1,000 NIS prize onstage at Beit Avi Chai. Come to see the fun & cheer on your favorites – Friday, March 29th at 11:00 – Admission Free!
Stage One #4 Full Program:
Music:
Buba Myses
“BUBA MYSES” has recently taken the Jewish rock music scene by storm, with its own unique interpretation and spirit. The new Jewish Rock puppet band brings to the stage a Jewish mind, a neshama and a unique message in one profound musical experience. Band members: Josh Friedman – singer; Chanan Elias – vocals; Simon (Shimon) Shar’abi -guitar; Yanky Board – keyboard; Eli Cutz – drummer; Puppet design by “Marbe Yadaim” studio. Thursday, March 28th at 21:00. Tickets: 50 NIS/20 NIS students.
Sandy is a musical storyteller whose thoughtful and theatrical performance style has endeared her to audiences all over the world. Sandy’s most recent album – “Voices From the Other Side” – was named one of the top 25 folk releases of 2012 by NPR affiliate radio show The Back Porch. Wednesday, March 27th, at 20:00. Admission free!
Taylor Made
“Taylor Made” – is a local folk-rock-jazz trio performing the fine music of James Taylor and other member of the classic American folk-rock club.
Featuring: Elie Farkas – drums; Tal Nae – vocals and guitars; Avi Hershberg – bass. Thursday, March 28th at 19:30. Admission free.
Theatre:
Collected Stories
Playwright: Donald Margulies
Director: Leah Stoller
Actors: Bakol Ruben Gellar and Ronit Glaser
The play, by noted playwright Donald Margulies, lasers in on the lives of Jewish professor Ruth Steiner, and ambitious and talented MA student, Lisa Morrison. The play probes their fascinating, emotionally-charged relationship, and raises provocative and moral issues about art, friendship and trust.
Thursday | March 28th | 18:00
Tickets: 50 NIS, Students: 20 NIS
Schneider & Schuster
Playwright: Yehoshua Sobol
Adapted and directed by Aviva Raisky-Levi
Actors: Sarel Peterman and Hen Voda
Inspired by the unforgettable comedy team Djigan and Schumacher, the play is set in the shadow of the Holocaust following the duo as they flee throughout Europe. “Schneider and Schuster” is a compelling journey of comradeship that confronts crisis through the ability to look at life with humor (with Yiddish slang familiar to everyone.)
Wednesday | March 27th | 21:00
Tickets: 50 NIS, Students: 20 NIS
Karen’s Way: a Kindertransport life
Playwright: Vanessa Rosenthal
Director: Chris Wilkinson
Cast: Venessa Rosenthal, Francesca Larkin
Piano Marion Raper, Violin David Riley
This play is a dramatization with live music of the life of the poet and survivor Karen Gershon. Based on her own words and poems, it tells her story from idyllic childhood in 1930s Germany, to refugee and finally to recognized literary acclaim.
The show comes straight from the Edinburgh Festival where it won rave reviews.
Wednesday | March 27th | 18:00
Thursday | March 28th | 21:00
Tickets: 50 NIS, Students: 20 NIS
IMAMA
A fertile play on the secrets of motherhood (“Mum”’s the word…)
Playwright: Hadar Galron with the ensemble
Director: Hadar Galron
Actors: Nufar Hurvit, Moran Zafrani, May Shrim / Sheli Kira, Yael Nachum / Tali Bik, Heleny Dagan, Gili Perri / Algom Cohen, Vita Holodny, Barak Hudrian
In this amazing era, when one can reach the other side of the globe within a few hours, it still takes 9 months to bring a child to the world! IMAMA, a comic drama, brings to the stage the double-life of modern mothers, without forgetting the father, who nowadays often finds himself in the role of Mommy…
Wednesday | March 27th | 21:00
Tickets: 50 NIS, Students: 20 NIS
Baltimore / Jerusalem
The show was written in an ensemble process by the members of the cast
Director: Eli Kaplan Wildmann
Performed by the Malkat Shva Dancers, the Malkat Shva Choir, Herbert Dancers and the Hairspray Council Kids
A theater performance that documents the journeys of a group of Ethiopian Olim and a group of Anglo Olim as they learn together about similar problems that the civil rights movement faced in the 1960’s, and deal with the challenges and rewards of moving away to a new place – Jerusalem. The show features an eclectic mix of Ethiopian song and dances and music alongside classic Americana that can only be found in Jerusalem.
In partnership with the Malkat Shva center of Ethiopian Culture
Thursday | March 28th | 18:00
Friday | March 29th | 11:00
Tickets: 50 NIS, Students: 20 NIS
It’s Not You, Well… Maybe it is
Playwright: Sura Shachnovitz and Rafael Poch
Director: Eryn London
Actors: David Storfer, Netanya Mischel, Elyakeem Kinstlinger, Faygle Train,
Mina Perskin, Avraham Schlissel, Raphael Poch, Jess Katz, Batsheva Shachnovitz
Danny, a young modern orthodox man, his ex-girlfriend Rachel, and recently widowed Rivka experience all the trials and tribulations of dating. Based upon only real life stories while addressing difficult topics, this play is a fun and serious look at dating for marriage.
Wednesday | March 27th | 18:00
Tickets: 50 NIS, Students: 20 NIS
Improv:
Ha-hafuch
Director: Gary Rudoren
Cast: Molly Livingstone, Josh Kaplan, Debbie Kaye, Eran Kraus
Hahafuch, Israel’s Premiere English-speaking Comedy Troupe, brings an all-new comedy variety show. Hahafuch finds the humor in everyday life in Israeli society, bureaucracy, politics, culture, Judaism and everything in between. Our motto is, “If you don’t think Israel is funny than you haven’t seen our show!”
Wednesday | March 27th | 23:00
Tickets: 30 NIS
English on Stage – Maniact
Cast: Tammy Berlin, Shani Shalgi, Baruch Tanaman, Mimi Tanaman, Meirav Zur
A fun, crazy show with short acts driven completely by ideas from the audience. Characters, scenarios, and dialogue are created on the spot. Unscripted, unrehearsed, unexpected, unhinged, uncontrollable laughter!
Thursday | March 28th | 23:30
Tickets: 30 NIS
