Winnipeg Jewish Theatre 2019-20 Season Brochure

BRAVE NEW

WORDS 2019-20 SEASON

BRAVE NEW WORDS Winnipeg Jewish Theatre’s 2019/20 playbill is filled with BRAVE NEW WORDS and we’d be delighted to have you to join us for all of it. Exciting things will be happening on the Berney Theatre stage: there will be four shows instead of our usual three; all of them are new Canadian plays centred around themes of faith and identity; two of them are world premieres and one of them is by award-winning Winnipeg playwright Daniel Thau-Eleff.

WJT is committed to producing works that explore meaningful themes that reflect the human experience. These explorations ripple throughout the season in bold, provocative, and creative ways from Bar Mitzvah lessons to baseball, from friendship to family. Through it all there will be plenty of humour, heart and great theatre on stage.

Be daring and subscribe today at WJT.ca or by calling 204-477-7478. Come join us on this exciting theatrical journey and enjoy the perks of being a subscriber.

I look forward to seeing you at the theatre!

Ari Weinberg ARTISTIC & MANAGING DIRECTOR

«««« - winnipeg free press

photo: Keith Levit

Beverly Ndukwu

“Work of GREAT TENDERNESS and GRIT”

– JEAN, AUDIENCE MEMBER

– WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

After Jerusalem

Toby Hughes and Sharon Bajer

"a WONDERFUL, INSPIRING evening of theatre..."

“LEAVE-'EMLAUGHING ROM-COM”

photo: Keith Levit

– RANDALL KING, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Mariam Bernstein

photo: Keith Levit

Becoming Dr. Ruth

PRAISE FOR LAST SEASON INTIMATE APPAREL

B A R M I T Z VA H

B

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September 14 – 22, 2019 |

PREVIEW

September 12

BAR MITZVAH BOY Mark Leiren-Young | DIRECTED BY Krista Jackson FEATURING Amy Lee and Nicholas Rice BY

Winner of the 2017 Jewish Plays Project, Bar Mitzvah Boy tells the story of Joey, a successful lawyer who is used to things going his way. Now in his 60s, he suddenly decides he needs a Bar Mitzvah.

What begins as a simple item on his to-do list becomes a deep immersion in the necessity of faith and the meaning behind rituals. This production will see the return to WJT of Nicholas Rice (WJT’s Angels in America) and also features Amy Lee (Of Mice and Morro and Jasp at MTYP).

If you loved Becoming Dr. Ruth, you’ll kvell for Bar Mitzvah Boy

Ari Says: “Bar Mitzvah Boy is a perfect way to launch our expanded season. It’s funny, moving and asks questions about WHY we believe in what we believe in.”

“This one is a gentle, bittersweet comedy that’s both charming and undemanding—a perfect date show, regardless of your faith.”

– THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT

WJT 2019–2020 SEASON | BRAVE NEW WORDS | SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

GolemsĘź The

Mighty Swing

WORLD PREMIERE | November 16 – 24, 2019 |

PREVIEW

November 14

THE GOLEM’S MIGHTY SWING

James Sturm, ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY Marcus Jamin DIRECTED BY Mitchell Cushman A CO-PRODUCTION WITH Outside the March (toronto, on) FEATURING Toby Hughes, Marcus Jamin, Jesse Nerenberg, James Smith and Ray Strachan BASED ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL BY

A puppet adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel by James Sturm, The Golem’s Mighty Swing follows the story of the Stars of David—a 1920’s barnstorming, Jewish baseball team that travels small-town America playing local squads. On the road, the team encounters a devastating financial hurdle, and are forced to make a compromising decision in order to keep their dreams alive.

Ari Says: “A stage adaptation of a graphic novel told with five actors and an ensemble of puppets... how cool is that? This play is so singular, it’s a sure-fire not-to-be-missed theatrical event.”

WJT 2019–2020 SEASON | BRAVE NEW WORDS | CHECK OUT OUR SNOWBIRD PACKAGE

A Jewish baseball team in the 1920’s–all with PUPPETS!

Two

Birds One

Stone

February 8–16, 2020 |

PREVIEW

February 6

TWO BIRDS ONE STONE Natasha Greenblatt and Rimah Jabr DIRECTED BY Guillermo Verdecchia A Two Birds Theatre Production WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY

Rimah Jabr was born a Muslim Palestinian, Natasha Greenblatt was born a Jewish Canadian.

They met for the first time in Toronto, but have they seen each other before? Two Birds One Stone is a fictional documentary that investigates the forces that push us through time and across continents to find each other.

Ari Says: “This work is a timely, engaging play that examines all facets of conflict—in families, in friendships, in oneself—and performed with a simplicity that is magnetic to watch.”

“Two Birds One Stone was a powerful, quirky, and intimate show that shattered my expectations completely.”

– MOONEY ON THEATRE

This is a play that asks complicated questions about identity, privilege, and home. To encourage dialogue and a richer experience of the play, each performance will include a post-show discussion led by Karen Ridd, instructor in Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies at MSC. PRODUCTION SPONSOR

Debbie Gray WJT 2019–2020 SEASON | BRAVE NEW WORDS | SAVE BIG WITH PREVIEW NIGHT PACKAGES

NARROW BRIDGE

WORLD PREMIERE | March 28 – April 5, 2020 |

PREVIEW

March 26

NARROW BRIDGE

Daniel Thau-Eleff | DIRECTED BY Ari Weinberg FEATURING Mariam Bernstein, Alissa Watson and Liam Zarrillo BY

When Sam has a vision of drifting through the mechitzah (the barrier separating men and women in Orthodox synagogues) it launches a unique spiritual and religious journey. Sam/Sholem comes out, first as transgender and then as an Orthodox Jew. Struggling to balance family dynamics, history, activism and Talmud study, Sam wonders if, as Rabbi Nachman said, “All the world is a very narrow bridge.”

Ari Says: “There is so much heart in this play. It’s enlightening, humorous, and authentic as it examines a person’s journey transitioning genders and religious beliefs. With Winnipeg being home to the Rainbow Resource Centre, the longest continuously running LGTB2SQ+ resource centre in Canada, WJT is proud to be producing this brand new play.”

WJT 2019–2020 SEASON | BRAVE NEW WORDS | CHECK OUT OUR SNOWBIRD PACKAGE

WORLD PREMIERE BY AWARD-WINNING WINNIPEG PLAYWRIGHT.

SEASON SPONSORS SEASON SPONSOR

Black

CORE FUNDERS

CMYK

Pantone

BRAVE NEW

WORDS

AWARDWINNING PLAY

POWERFUL AND QUIRKY

WJT 2019–2020 SEASON | BRAVE NEW WORDS

WINNIPEG Playwright, WORLD Premiere!

WORLD PREMIERE! Baseball & Puppets Turn the page for crowd pleasing subscriptions!

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! FOUR SHOW

subscriptions are

$140*

Bar Mitzvah Boy, The Golem’s Mighty Swing, Two Birds One Stone, Narrow Bridge

WJT offers three subscription packages, designed to fit your lifestyle. We have a regular four show package, a preview night package and a snowbird package, if you’re away for the coldest part of the winter. The perks of buying season tickets are: • Guarantee yourself the BEST SEATS for every performance you attend • SAVE MONEY By purchasing more than one show, you are saving up to 20% • COMPLIMENTARY EXCHANGES – Subscribers can switch their tickets from one show to another in the same package • Purchase of up to four additional tickets at 20% OFF regular price • FREE PARKING at the Asper Jewish Community Campus

PREVIEW NIGHT

subscriptions

$124

*

Subscription to Thursday preview night of each production

SNOWBIRD subscriptions

$105*

Bar Mitzvah Boy, The Golem’s Mighty Swing, Narrow Bridge

Single Tickets $42* | Preview Tickets $36* | Student Tickets $15*

THREE WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE

By Phone Call 204.477.7478 and let us guide you through the subscription process.

In-Person Come down to C148-123 Doncaster Street Online Subscribe at wjt.ca

BOX OFFICE HOURS * Plus taxes and fees

MON. 12 – 4 pm | WED. 10 am – 2 pm FRI. 10 am – 2 pm

SEASON CALENDAR B A R M I T Z VA H

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APR

24

Preview Night

NARR W BRIDGE

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Opening Night

Talkbacks

Closing Night

SHOWTIMES Weeknights 7:30 pm | Saturdays 8 pm | Sundays 2 pm WJT performances in the Berney Theatre located within the Asper Jewish Community Campus, 123 Doncaster St.

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.ca 123 Doncaster Street Winnipeg, Manitoba | R3N 2B2

4538935