Becoming Dr.Ruth BY
SEASON SPONSOR
Mark St. Germain PRODUCTION SPONSOR
THE ASPER FOUNDATION Proud to support the IS PROUD TO SUPPORT Winnipeg Jewish Theatre’s WINNIPEG JEWISH production of THEATRE’S Becoming Dr. Ruth PRODUCTION OF BECOMING DR. RUTH www.asperfoundation.com
WWW.ASPERFOUNDATION.COM
2
W I N N I P EG J E W I S H T H E AT R E
PRODUCTION CREDITS________________________________________________________________
Becoming Dr. Ruth by Mark St Germain
Setting June 9th, 1997. Washington Heights, New York Cast Mariam Bernstein Dr. Ruth
Creative Team Streaming Director Ari Weinberg Original Stage Director Debbie Patterson Covid Officer and Stage Supervisor Ryan Bjornson Set and Costume Designer Ksenia Broda-Milian Lighting Designer James Moore
Production Team Production Management Katherine Johnston Production Management James Moore and Camera Operator Camera Operator Dylan Baillie Camera Operator Mike Pascucci Director of Photography Tommy Inthirath and Post-Production Editor Head Carpenter Keith Damboise House Technician, WJT Jerry Augustin Props Coordinator ZoĂŤ Leclerc-Kennedy Scenic Artist Shauna Jones World Premiere, June 30, 2013 at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA Julianne Boyd (Artistic Director) Tristan Wilson (Managing Director) Originally Produced Off-Broadway by Michael Alden, Stefany Bergson, Rodger Hess, Jamie deRoy, Pat Flicker Addiss, Beam Reach Entertainment/Elyse Mirto, LFI Group. Associate Producers: Matt Jared, Lawrence D. Poster/Merrill A. Stone Original projection design by Brian Prather and Daniel Brodie. We acknowledge that we are on Treaty One Land, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people and the homeland of the Metis Nation. We thank them, the Cree, Dakota and OjiÂ-Cree, and all of the custodians of this land.
2021 SEASON
|
BECOMING DR. RUTH
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE_________________________________________________________________ Becoming Dr. Ruth, the one woman show with Mariam Bernstein, was a huge success when WJT presented it on the Berney Theatre stage in 2018. It was sold out early in the run and many people missed this wonderful theatre experience. Enter COVID- 19. WJT is pleased to bring Becoming Dr. Ruth to you in a new way. We present this play online about America’s favourite sex therapist. Filled with humour and honesty, this piece could be just what the doctor has ordered for all of us. Those of you who saw this one performed live on stage will want to experience it again, albeit in a different format. We look forward to the day that we will be sitting together enjoying plays in a theatre. But until then, Ari has some other ideas up his sleeve so please stay tuned. Thank you for being our loyal audience and supporters. We will continue to explore new ways to bring live theatre to you. Enjoy the show. Miriam Kohn WJT Board President
Explore from home humanrights.ca
4
W I N N I P EG J E W I S H T H E AT R E
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE______________________________________________________
“Our way is not soft grass, it’s a mountain path with lots of rocks. But it goes upward, forward, toward the sun.”–Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer When Becoming Dr. Ruth opened at WJT on Saturday October 27, 2018 it was a somber occasion. Earlier that morning a mass shooting took place in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Ruth’s quote was something I shared in response to the shooting, and repeated to every audience before every performance during the run. And that run was cathartic. In a time where Jewish communities around the world held their breaths with fear and grief, Dr. Ruth’s story uplifted our community with her message: life is hard, but it’s always worth living to the fullest. I knew we would bring the show back. So many people asked for it to return, and the stage was set for this season. And yet this time it happened in a dark, empty theatre, with three cameras and a crew all wearing masks; a live audience replaced by a virtual one. Throughout the entire process of bringing Becoming Dr. Ruth into your home, this quote returned and rattled around in my brain. We miss live theatre, human connection, being with people. Again, we find ourselves in a time of fear and grief, and again Dr. Ruth is here to lift our spirits. I am so grateful to Debbie Patterson, who helmed the original production with great care and consideration and continue to marvel at the humanity and depth of character Mariam Bernstein brings to the role. I am indebted to all the artists and technicians who helped to make the filmed version and the original production come to life and to you, our audience members, for joining us in the virtual theatre. Your support is everything. The way forward will not be soft grass, but we strive ever onward towards the sun… I look forward to seeing you live, in a theatre again soon, Ari Weinberg Artistic and Managing Director
2021 SEASON
|
BECOMING DR. RUTH
5
CAST_______________________________________________________________________________________ Mariam Bernstein | Dr. Ruth Mariam is thrilled to have the opportunity to portray such an inspiring, resilient, and absolutely delightful woman as Dr. Ruth Westheimer. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and the University of Winnipeg, she has acted from Victoria to Halifax in over 45 productions. Performing highlights include Dr. Ruth Westheimer in Becoming Dr. Ruth (WJT; Evie Award for Best Performance by an Actress), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Dry Cold), the Red Queen in Alice Through the Looking Glass, (Royal MTC), and Big Julie in Guys and Dolls (Rainbow Stage). She has directed over 30 productions for, among others, Royal MTC, PTE, WJT, and Dry Cold, with material ranging from Arthur Miller to Stephen Sondheim to Shakespeare and Robert Munsch. She has taught acting at U of W, at the Marcel Desautels School of Music (U of M), PTE, MTYP, Village Conservatory, and has been a private coach for audition preparation for over 25 years. For such a personal story as Becoming Dr. Ruth, here is a bit of her personal history: Mariam is an Ashkenazi Jew, whose family came from Poland and Russia. Thankfully, most of her family was already in North America by the start of WW2, but a branch of her mother’s family was killed in Poland by the Nazis. Her mother’s two cousins, aged 14 and 4, escaped into the forest, and lived there for months until resistance fighters found them, and they made their way to Palestine. There, they raised a beautiful family, with whom she is in regular contact. Her work in Becoming Dr. Ruth is dedicated to them, and to the memory of her beloved Dad, Mark Bernstein.
CREATIVE TEAM_________________________________________________________________________ Mark St Germain | Playwright Mark St. Germain’s play Freud’s Last Session ran for two years OffBroadway, closing July 24th, 2012. The play has been open in Argentina since January 2012 and in repertory in Sweden, Australia, and Denmark. His play Becoming Dr. Ruth premiered in July 2012 at the Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires, played at Hartford Theaterworks, and was brought to NYC to the Westside Theatre. Scott And Hem In The Garden Of Allah co-premiered in the summer of 2013 at the Contemporary American Theater Festival and Barrington Stage Company. His play The Best of Enemies, first produced by the Barrington Stage Company, is now being produced throughout the country. The Fabulous Lipitones, a musical comedy co-written with John Markus, premiered at the Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta in summer, 2013, and then at Goodspeed Playhouse. Mark’s other plays include Camping With Henry And Tom (Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Ears On A Beatle, The God Committee, Out Of Gas On Lover’s Leap, and Dancing Lessons (premiered at the Barrington Stage Festival). Mark wrote the Tammy Wynette Musical Stand
6
W I N N I P EG J E W I S H T H E AT R E
CREATIVE TEAM_________________________________________________________________________ By Your Man, which began at the Ryman Theater in Nashville. With composer Charles Strouse he co-wrote the book for his adaption of Dreiser’s American Tragedy. With composer Randy Courts, Mark has written the perennial musical The Gifts Of The Magi as well as Johnny Pye And The Fool Killer (AT&T Award Grant) and Jack’s Holiday (Playwrights Horizons). He co-wrote director Carroll Ballard’s film “Duma” and produced and directed the documentary “My Dog, An Unconditional Love Story,” with Richard Gere, Glenn Close, Edward Albee and others. Mark also wrote the award winning children’s book“Three Cups.” Mark is an Associate Artist of the Barrington Stage Company, a recipient of the William Inge Festival’s New Voices Award, and a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Writer’s Guild East. He is an alumnus of New Dramatists. Ari Weinberg | Streaming Director Ari has served as Winnipeg Jewish Theatre’s Artistic & Managing Director since 2015. Directing credits include After Jerusalem, Tribes, The Whipping Man, Another Way Home, Shiksa, Stars of David (WJT); Frankenstein (University of Winnipeg); Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Knavish Hedgehogs at Winnipeg Fringe); Hugh and I (Toronto Fringe); Godspell (Theatre Sheridan). Acting credits include Mendel in Falsettos (WJT/Dry Cold Productions); Snail in A Year With Frog and Toad and Snoopy in A Charlie Brown Double Bill (Manitoba Theatre for Young People), Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Tootles in Peter Pan (Stratford Festival); George in Hana’s Suitcase (Magnus Theatre). Ari is a proud graduate of Sheridan College’s Music Theatre-Performance Program and served as the program’s Internship Advisor for seven years. Debbie Patterson | Original Stage Director Debbie Patterson is a playwright, director and actor. Trained at the National Theatre School of Canada, she is a founder of Shakespeare in the Ruins (SIR), served as Artistic Director for Popular Theatre Alliance of MB, Theatre Ambassador for Winnipeg’s Cultural Capital year and as Artistic Associate at Prairie Theatre Exchange 2012 to 2018. In 2016, Debbie became the first physically disabled actor to play Richard III in a professional Canadian production with SIR. In 2014 she was selected for the United Nations Platform for Action Committee’s Activist Award and was honoured with the Mayor’s Making a Mark Award in 2017. She is a proud advocate for disability arts through her work as the Artistic Director of Sick + Twisted Theatre and as a disability consultant/dramaturge on numerous projects across Canada. She lives a wheelchair-enabled life in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in a cabin on the shore of Lake Winnipeg.
2021 SEASON
|
BECOMING DR. RUTH
7
CREATIVE TEAM_________________________________________________________________________ Ryan Bjornson | Covid Officer and Set Supervisorr Ryan is incredibly appreciative to be back to work, especially on this production. This past year has been so difficult for everyone in the Arts industry, and for many, 2021 is not looking very bright. The support of audiences, whether it is buying tickets to digital performances such as this, donating to local arts organizations, or signing petitions to help sway government policy, is more important now than ever before. Thank you so much for allowing us to continue to do the work we love, in order to bring you the best possible experience. Ksenia Broda-Milian | Set and Costume Designer Ksenia is a set, costume, and lighting designer and arts educator, and member of the Associated Designers of Canada. Her season typically takes her across the country to design, teach, and train, so she is excited that even during this pandemic we can create theatre and share Dr. Ruth’s story with more audiences! Her training includes a certificate in Exhibition Design from the Pratt Institute, MFA in Theatre Design (University of Alberta), BA Honours (University of Winnipeg), Ghost River Theatre’s Devised Intensive, and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She is also passionate about creating a more equitable, accessible world in and beyond theatre, studying accessibility in the context of the built environment, live events, and audio description with organizations based in Canada, Europe, and the United States. Ksenia’s last design was lighting for Katharsis at PTE. Recent credits include designs for Magnus Theatre, Rainbow Stage, Chemainus Theatre Festival, WJT, WCD and Sarasvàti; and assisting at the Stratford Festival, RMTC, and RWB. She loves teaching and has recently worked with One Song Glory at the Musical Stage Company, Theatre Alberta’s Artstrek, and spent many years as a teacher at MTYP and TA at UWinnipeg. Currently Ksenia works for Winnipeg charity Artbeat Studio, whose mission is to facilitate the use of art for mental health recovery. BECOMING DR. RUTH VOICEOVER ACTORS________________________________________ Keenan Lehmann • Julie Lumsden • Debbie Maslowsky • Laura Olafson Cherissa Richards • Justin Stadnyk • Melanie Whyte • Cory Wojcik
8
W I N N I P EG J E W I S H T H E AT R E
WJT STAFF________________________________________________________________________________
Ari Weinberg Sam McLean Greg Klassen Doowah Design Leigh-Anne Kehler
Artistic & Managing Director Producer Marketing Manager Graphic Design Studio Outreach Artist
BOARD OF DIRECTORS_________________________________________________________________
2021 SEASON
Miriam Kohn Sydney Shore Reannah Hocken David Brickwood Maylene Ludwig David Asper Jaime Bernstein Isaura Clark Judith Doctoroff Leah Leibl Jaime Rosin Lauren Tennenhouse David Ugwu Sharon Zalik Bev Aronovitch David Cohen
|
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President Special Advisor
Founding Artistic Director Founding President
BECOMING DR. RUTH
9
WINNIPEG JEWISH THEATRE SPONSORS____________________________________________
Season Sponsor
Production Sponsor
Digital Media Sponsor
Core Funders
10
W I N N I P EG J E W I S H T H E AT R E
WINNIPEG JEWISH THEATRE DONORS 2020-21_____________________________________ Thank you and toda raba to those who have supported WJT’s 2020/21 Season! Reeva Abrams Anonymous Donation Maggie Armstrong Gail Asper Patricia Hunter & Zaz Bajon Marie Baron Loretta Basiuk Linda Beech Asher & Gertie Begleiter Hannon Bell Mariam Bernstein Carolyn Berthelet Marjorie Blankstein Martin Billinkoff Susan Billinkoff Christa Bisson Rick Borchert Wren Brian David Brickwood Linda & Ed Calnitsky Teresa Cameron Alexa Campbell Bev Carson Judith Charach Justin Charleton Lawrence & Beatrice Cherniack Rhonda Chorney Antoni Cimolino Isaura Clark Susan & Greg Clark Brittannie Corona Phil Corrin Carrie & Pablo Felices-
2021 SEASON
|
Costello Janice Crerar Judy Danchura Margaret Deally Bruce Dean Ben Diamond Judith Doctoroff Judy Doob Carol & Neil Duboff Claudia Dubovsky Kate & Tim Fennell Christine Freeman Zita and Mark Bernstein Family Foundation Heather Pullan & Tom Frohlinger Diamond Gallery Shelly Garfield Susan Garfield Connie Geisbrecht Jean & Dennis Giguere Freda Glow Elaine Goldstein Rachel Gotthilf Karen Grant Debbie Gray Sara Gray Ken Green Brock Griffin Aron Grusko Murray Haines Helen Halpin Ray Hignell Anne Hildebrand Camilla Holland
BECOMING DR. RUTH
Karen Howell Agnes Hubert Isabelle Jarrin Janet Johnson Nancy Johnson Aiden & Josh Kahanovitch Cherry Karpyshin Evan R Klassen Frances Koncan Miriam Kohn Karla Berbrayer & Allen Kraut Cara Kroft Rena Krongold Reannah Hocken & Matthew Lander Serena La Posta Phyllis Laveman Ellen & Stewart Leibl Leah Leibl Diana Leitold Kerrie Halprin & Richard Leipsic Maylene & Israel Ludwig Allison Machutchon Laurel Malkin Jordi Mand Irene Marantz Lynne Carol Martin Debbie Maslowsky Campbell McIntyre Andrew Mclaren Marilyn Melnyk Cathy Moser Dale Napper
11
WINNIPEG JEWISH THEATRE DONORS 2020-21_____________________________________ Linda Norman Melissa Novecosky Douglas Palmerton James Parker Robb & Heather Paterson Esther Penner Beverley Phillips Catharine Philipson Blair Philpott Judith Putter Corey Quintaine Alex Saslove & Justin Raisbeck Fay Reich Elaine Reynolds Maureen Robertson Bonnie Robinson Hariett Rosenbaum Carla Rubenfeld
Marvin Samphir Brent Schacter Judy Schnoor Miriam & Preston Segal Emily & Marvin Shane Laurie Shapiro Sydney Shore Shayna & Merrill Shulman Merrill Shwaid Janis Silver Rita Silver Cynthia Hiebert-Simkin Isle Slotin Margaret Smith Anthony Steffes Katherine Cobor & Gordon Steindel Karen Steinfeld Donnie Stern
Marlene Stern Richard Stiffora Mary Ann Supleve Chana Thau Deirdre Thomkins Sara Topham Bonnie Tregobov Chris Urban David Ugwu Susan & Eric Vickar Shannon Vickers Armin Weibe Alex & Debi Weinberg Mary Agnes Welch Mavis Whicker Fran Winograd Tyrell Witherspoon Diane Zack Sharon Zalik
BRIDGE BUILDER CAMPAIGN__________________________________________________________ WJT was poised to present the world premiere of Narrow Bridge by Daniel Thau-Eleff in March of 2020 and the Bridge Builder Campaign was a fundraising initiative designed to help WJT bring Narrow Bridge to the stage. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the premiere was postponed, but WJT would still like to recognise the donors that helped us prepare Narrow Bridge for its debut. WJT remains committed to producing Narrow Bridge when it is safe to resume public performances indoors. Heather Pullan & Tom Frohlinger Sara Gray Louis Trepel & WT Grogan Kristine Barr & Kael McKenzie Paula Parks Rick Lee & Laurie Shapiro Shayna & Merrill Shulman Ari Weinberg
12
W I N N I P EG J E W I S H T H E AT R E
THANK YOUS____________________________________________________________________________ Thank you and toda raba to the following individuals & organizations who graciously provided their advice, guidance, and time. ACTRA Manitoba
Chris Hadley
Judith Putter
Asper Jewish Community Campus
Camilla Holland
Prairie Theatre Exchange
Amanda Jordan
Rob Macklin
Gail Asper
Cherry Karpyshin
Red Rover Entertainment
Jerry Augustin
Greg Klassen
Karla Berbrayer
Miriam Kohn
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Jackie & Steve Broda-Milian
Phyllis Laveman
Jennah Smith
Doowah Design
Keith Levit
Théâtre Cercle Molière
Shelley Faintuch
Maylene & Israel Ludwig
University of Manitoba
Tom Frohlinger
Chloe Vickar
Karyn Glass
Manitoba Theatre for Young People
Debbie Gray
Doug Moore
Sarah Gray
James Moore
University of Winnipeg
Material Adapted, Curated, and Produced by Ronda Spinak A collection of humorous, revealing, and inspiring stories by Jewish people of Colour exploring identity and community. Available for free online as part of Safe at Home Manitoba’s Stay Home initiative.
Coming March 2021 .ca
2021 SEASON
|
BECOMING DR. RUTH
13