Tag: Theater

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, CBDB Productions, Crossroads Theater Shed, Israel Musicals, Starcatcher, Theater And Theology, Theatre Zion, Women's Performance Community, Year Review

Year In Review: 2022

JET

The Jerusalem community has experienced yet another vibrant year of theater. We have bounced back from the pandemic with resilience and a continued passion for our craft, and it paid off. 2022 was full of exciting productions and other events within our community, including the following highlights.

The year started off strong with Theater and Theology’s production of The Blessing of a Broken Heart. This thought-provoking play took place at the Khan Theatre back in January.

Also in January, Theater in The Rough held their second Shakespeare Monologues performance near the Arnona Promenade.

The next show was After Rome by CBDB Productions. The performances occurred in February at the Khan Theatre and this powerful play left a meaningful impact on its audience.

March was a big month for Jerusalem’s theater community. It began with Whisper Freedom by the Women’s Performance Community. This musical is centered around the struggles of Soviet Jews in the 1970s, and it took place at the IASA Theater.

Theater and Theology also held more performances of The Blessing of a Broken Heart in mid-March. This time, they performed at Beit Mazia. The show continued to have a profound impact on its audience.

Additionally, Starcatcher held performances of Heathers all throughout March. This rock musical took place at Beit Mazia, and the dark yet comedic nature of the show captivated its audience.

Another production that took place in March was The Broadway Cure by LOGON. This original show set in the near post-pandemic future occurred at the Jerusalem Theater.

The final event of March was the Young Playwrights and Performers Winter Theater Festival held by Crossroads Theater Shed. This program gave teens the opportunity to learn about theater and playwriting with the help of mentors. The performances took place at the Khan Theatre.

In April, CBDB Productions produced The Candlesticks at the Khan Theatre. This show was in honor of Yom Hashoah, and there was a special Yom Hashoah ceremony before each performance.

Theatre Zion’s production of Peace Warriors also took place at the Khan Theatre in May. This satirical yet witty play centered around the anti-Israel attitudes at elite college campuses in America.

In June, Israel Musicals produced a workshop of The Four. This new, uplifting musical comedy occurred at the Khan Theatre.

Encore! Educational Theater Company also produced H.M.S. Pinafore in June. This family-friendly Gilbert & Sullivan musical took place at the Masorti High School Auditorium.

Another production that occurred was The Geography of Night by Danny Paller. The performances took place at the end of June and beginning of July.

The summer continued with even more projects and productions. Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice: in motion was produced by Theater in the Rough. The performances occurred all throughout August at Bloomfield Park, along with two talks exploring the play.

Crossroads Theater Shed then produced their Young Playwrights and Performers Summer Theater Festival. This event occurred at the end of August at the Khan Theatre.

Lastly, The Magic of Musicals by Encore! held performances in late August and early September at the Khan Theatre. This exciting youth performance featured songs performed in previous Encore productions.

In addition to these performances, we continued with some of the community events we held last year. We had our third annual JET community picnic, and Broadway With a Twist has continued to host their Broadway mic nights.

As for the upcoming year, Encore! just held auditions for their upcoming production of Hello, Dolly! and Beit Hillel Theater Workshop also held auditions for Oliver! The Musical for their annual Hanukkah performance. Starcatcher is also holding auditions for Into The Woods on October 24th-26th. Mikva the Musical will be performing in October and Raise Your Spirits Theatre will be performing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Jerusalem in December. Additionally, Rhinoceros Productions begins performances for their production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf on December 1st. Stay tuned for information about these performances and more!

We are so proud of our community and everything we have accomplished in 2022. Shana Tovah and here’s to everything that 2023 will bring!