2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

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as a means to not only help raise funds, but to introduce issues of American Jewish life to a diverse audience of theatergoers through high-quality staged readings. With an array of theatres nationwide dedicated to special interest groups from Irish and Hispanic to black and other minorities, founder Mark Lambeck realized that Connecticut did not have a troupe dedicated to Jewish theater. And in fact, the closest “Jewish theater” to the greater Bridgeport region was in New York City. Though there were many synagogues and Jewish Community Centers throughout the state that produced plays, they often did popular shows (“Hello Dolly,” “Annie” or the occasional “Fiddler on the Roof’) and ignored the wealth of lesser known and original works that focused on different aspects of Jewish life. Seizing the opportunity to bring shows with “identifiable Jewish characters or themes” to Connecticut audiences, Lambeck launched The Temple Players in August 1998. The group began ambitiously by producing 4 shows a year in February, June, August & October and evolved in 2004 into a summer-only theater that has widened its focus to include original plays with Jewish relevance. We enter the 2007 season as our 10th year of bringing theater with Jewish content to the greater Bridgeport area, and pride ourselves on drawing general, secular and interfaith audiences to our shows from surrounding towns reaching from Stamford to New Haven. So far, in our nine previous seasons, we have produced 27 shows (25 script-inhand staged readings and 2 fully produced original productions with music). Our presentations have dealt with such issues as: Anti-Semitism: “Park Your Car in Harvard Yard” — 1998; “Another Antigone” — 2001 Inter-marriage/conversion: “Shadowlands” -- 2002; “Two and a Half Jews” — 2002; “Love & Baklava” — 2006; “Rosalie & Julian” (upcoming in June 2007) Jewish families and traditions: “Cityscapes” — 1999; “Social Security” — 1999; “Crossing Delancey”-- 2000; “Tribal Humor” — 2004 Religion and spirituality: “Twist of Faith” — 1999; “Second Chances” — 2000; “The Rabbi Comedies” – 2006 A love of Israel: “Chaim’s Love Song” — 2004; “Love & Baklava” —2006 A Jewish approach to dealing with death: “Cultural Safari” —2001; “What’s Wrong with This Picture?” – 2002; “The Cemetery Club” —2003 and much more. Most presentations have dealt with the universal themes of friendship, trust, family values, and ethics — usually with a sense of humor. Ultimately, we discovered that by introducing a general audience to Jewish culture and traditions, we could educate the public about the Jewish world in an entertaining or provocative way. We’ve drawn church groups, senior groups, and mixed audiences of all ages and backgrounds in the 10 years we’ve been running this successful program. Visit our Web site: http://www.bethsholomstratford.org/templeplayers/ for more details about the group including a full production history and awards. Congregational Support for the Group The Temple Players falls within the umbrella of Temple Beth Sholom’s “Ways & Means” committee, meaning fund raising. The Group returns an average of $2k - $5k to the Temple’s general coffers each season. Members serve as the artistic director, house manager, box office manager and staff, publicity, café staff (shows are performed in a cabaret/coffeehouse setting), stage crew, graphic designer (for flyers, programs, and signs), and sound technicians. All performers in The Temple Players’ shows have semi-professional or community theater acting experience, so there have been few synagogue members who have been east in shows — another opportunity to bring ‘outsiders’ into the Temple for exposure to the culture and audience-building. Performing Arts through the Temple’s Education Committee Through Temple Beth Sholom’s Education committee, the children of the Hebrew School (and often, their parents) have performed original plays, skits, and “talent shows” in celebration of the holidays of Chanukkah and Purim. The children have participated in Temple Beth Sholom’s children’s chorus, performing at the holidays, in plays, and in community events. In the past, the group has performed original Chanukkah and Purim plays including:
1997 — “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins,” an adaptation by Joy Bannow of the book “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” by Eric Kimmel. 1998 (adult cast) and 2002 (all children’s version) -- “The Gift of the Rabbi” by Mark Lambeck, a Chanukkah adaptation of the classic 0. Henry Christmas story, “The Gift of the Magi.” 1999 -- “Purim Time,” an original play by Dr. Karel Kumerman (written in the Czech Republic in the late 1950’s and translated into English by Dr. Kumerman), first performed at Temple Beth Sholom in 1985. 1999 and 2004 -- “Jacob and the Magic Dreidels,” an adaptation by Mark Lambeck of the Eric Kimmel children’s book; music and original lyrics by Laurie Raccuia . 2005 -- “The Thirteenth Dreidel,” an original play with music by Mark Lambeck, original lyrics by Laurie Raccuia. 2006 -- “Bubbe Goose’s Chanukkah,” an original play with music by Mark Lambeck, original lyrics by Laurie Raccuia, inspired by characters from classic Mother Goose tales. The Education Committee has also invited other musical groups to perform at their Chanukah parties and other events including The Family Pasternak (Klezmer Band), the Klez Kids Trio, and The Yale Klezmer Band. In addition, the Purim talent shows have featured children reciting poetry, dancing (modem dance, hip-hop, and jazz), singing, playing instruments (saxophone, keyboards, trumpet, drums, tuba, French horn, guitar, and flute), doing magic tricks, stand-up comedy, and performing dramatic readings and skits. USY/Kadima Several of the Temple’s youth group members have appeared in the Education Committee shows including the talent shows and plays focused on Purim and Chanukkah. In addition, to build appreciation for the performing arts, our USY leader takes a group on a yearly field trip into New York City to see a Broadway show. Shows they’ve seen the past few years include: Wicked, Mama Mia, Rent, and Hairspray. Other Peforming Arts Areas A third, ancillary “performing arts” program has been the Temple’s involvement in the annual Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service for Yom HaShoah. This event, cosponsored by the Stratford Clergy Association, includes an interfaith choir made up of singers from various churches around town as well as Temple members. (NOTE: Church singers learned “Ani Ma’Amin” phonetically and sing it in Hebrew every year.) Members participate in readings including testimonies, poetry, and responsive selections as well as the Kaddish and candle lighting. Video History of Performing Arts Many of The Temple Players’ shows, the Education Committee Talent shows and holiday plays, plus some of the Yom HaShoah services have been videotaped and are part of Temple Beth Sholom’s archives. Attachments: Programs Flyers Newspaper Clippings Photos from Events GOLD Over 900 BETH EL TEMPLE West Hartford, CT 860-233-9696 The Beth El Musical Arts Committee (BEMA) is responsible for bringing arts programs to the congregation and the greater Hartford community at large. Under the extraordinary leadership of Cantor Joseph Ness a full range of exciting offerings are made possible throughout the year. These programs include major orchestral, chamber, choral and
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2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

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