Category: Beit Hillel Theater Workshop

Beit Hillel Theater Workshop, Crossroads Theater Shed, Encore, Israel Musicals, Raise Your Spirits, Starcatcher, Theater And Theology, theater in the rough, Theatre Zion, Year Review

Year in Review 2023-2024

JET

This year, while many focused on our nation’s challenges, some of us turned to the theater. After October 7th, uncertainty led to the postponement of various projects, leaving us to ponder what performances would be appropriate. Yet, our community proved resilient, just like our nation, with numerous successful productions emerging starting in January.

Highlights from this year include:

  • The Last Night of Florence produced by J-Town Playhouse, with performances in January and September 
  • Miracle on South Division Street produced by Theater and Theology
  • A delightful “Gilbert and Sullivan Evening” produced by J-Town Playhouse
  • The Value of Names by Theatre Zion
  • Fame by Beit Hillel Theater Workshop
  • “An Evening with Tennessee Williams” by Rhinoceros Productions
  • Patience by Encore
  • How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying by LOGON
  • “People Will Say We’re in Love”, a musical evening produced by J-Town Playhouse
  • A youth production of Twelfth Night, by Theater in the Rough and JELLY, in June
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Israel Musicals
  • Alice By Heart by Starcatcher, who usually perform in March but moved to July and switched their show due to the war
  • The Women’s Performance Community of Jerusalem ran two highly successful events and donated all proceeds to the OU Israel Women’s Giving Circle, which supports displaced families and family members of enlisted soldiers:
    • An evening of comic relief with the acclaimed “ABSOLUTe Improv” comedy trio, where we gave ourselves and one another permission to laugh, and reaped the perhaps unexpected benefits of coming together in support of our brothers and sisters in need.
    • ⁠A screening of the film “WHISPER FREEDOM: The Soviet Jewry Struggle,” including some timely inspirational remarks on the unfortunately still-relevant theme of “Let My People Go!”
  • “Young Playwrights and Performers Festivals” produced by Crossroads Theater Shed in  February and in August
  • As You Like It by Theater in the Rough, and a youth production of Hamlet by their teen intensive, both in August
  • “Carousel Open Stage” produced by Rhinoceros Productions and Starcatcher featuring stand-up comedians and short plays in June
  • “Jerusalem Improv Comedy Extravaganza” produced by Two Wild and Crazy Jews, also featuring The Olam Hafooch Improv Troupe, in August

Despite the challenges, humor and theater have thrived. We have cried, laughed, loved, and come together to create and celebrate the performing arts.

Founded during the rise of the Intifada in 2001, Raise Your Spirits Theater has been a testament to our community’s strength. The infrastructure of our theater community has flourished, evident in the variety of projects this year. Theater and the arts are an important way to come together, especially in times of crisis and hardship, and a way to collectively process our hopes and fears.

As we look ahead, may we witness the return of our people, a renewed sense of unity in our nation, and a vibrant theater scene in the coming year.

Beit Hillel Theater Workshop, Community spotlight, Starcatcher

Community Spotlight – Daniel Lewin

JET

Daniel Lewin is an actor who has been part of Starcatcher, J-Town Playhouse, and the Beit Hillel Workshop over the course of around eight years. We asked Daniel a few questions and would like to share his answers with you. 

JET: Why did you get involved in acting?

DL: When I was 13, I saw my very first professional Broadway musical (but not on Broadway), which was The Lion King. Watching the actors bring characters to life, play around on the big stage, wear those amazing costumes, and work around that amazing set and scene changes inspired me to one day be a part of something like this. It looked like SO MUCH FUN!!! Once I left the show, I was never the same again. I wanted to be the person who can portray different characters and make an audience feel something that makes them connect with that character. 

JET: What is your favorite theater memory? 

DL: When we were doing Pippin, at the end of the show, we had to reach out our hands to the audience [to] try [to] get them to join us as a “player,” and usually no one gets up, but one particular performance we had a little boy (who must have been 3 [years old] at the time) who just walked up to us while reaching out his hands. One of the members in the cast handed him back to his mother. It was very funny in the moment, but it was so cool that we managed to make that look so believable that someone (even a 3 year old) would be lured into that. 

JET: What is the hardest part of being an actor? 

DL: Without a doubt, it has to be finding your character. Sometimes you may know a certain character from a certain show well, but that doesn’t always necessarily mean that you know how to portray it on the go. Most importantly is making that character your own. It take[s] week[s] or a month or 2 to fully develop the character you are playing correctly as an actor. 

JET: What is the most rewarding show you’ve ever done? 

DL: That’s a hard question. I can’t choose one so I’ll pick two. In The Heights and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. After each show of In The Heights, people came up to me telling me their experience of living in Washing[ton] Height[s]. Someone in particular told me she remembered the guy selling Piragua (shaved ice) on the streets in a cart and how refreshing it was. As Charlie Brown, all the kids wanted to take photos with us after the show. Someone’s mother told me that when her little daughter saw me (Charlie Brown) looking sad, she was trying to get up from her seat and come give me a hug. When I hear moments like these, it makes me happy to know I made something believable and it’s so rewarding.

JET: How do you prepare for different roles? 

DL: I like to read up on the character descriptions and understand the history behind that character. Sometimes if I feel like I need a bit of a boost to help me get started, I look for performances of them on YouTube (sorry to those who are against that), and try to figure out on my end what I can do similar, but differently to bring this role to life.

JET: What is your pre-show routine? 

DL: Before going on stage, I like to take 10 minutes of listening to 80’s rock music to get me hyped and excited to go on and perform. E.g. Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Foreigner, etc.

JET: What is your dream role and why? 

DL: Oh man, another hard question! Umm… if I had to pick it would be Javert in Les Miserables. He is one of my all time favorite characters and sings the beautiful song “Stars” which is my favorite from the show. I love playing a character who is determined to get what he wants and doesn’t rest until it’s his. It’s like chasing a dream, you can’t just let it get away.

Daniel Lewin was recently in Oliver! (Fagin) with Beit Hillel and will be in Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince) with Starcatcher (March).