1998-1999 Rothberg Yearbook

J ls , ! < ^ \/{ i± £ % a ^ f£±
Did you hear the people sing, singing the songs... from this years Beit Hillel production of “Les
Miserables”? If not you certainly missed out. During the cold month of January, 70 students
from the cast and crew of this critically acclaimed musical left seven sold out audiences
(approx. 1,500 people) begging for more “...at the end of the play.”
After a mere two and half months of intense rehearsals under the direction of Michael
Berl, the cast of about 50 students proudly belted out songs, “..filling the [theater] darkness with
order and light”, enhanced by their impoverished clothing, dirty make-up, and of course the
infamous barricade built by crew members, able to hold at least 10 actors at a time.
As smoothly as the shows often went, the high quality professional caliber of the cast
shined through as most of the cast filled the stage, sweetly singing, “Drink with m e... to days...
gone by. Sing with m e... the songs... we knew....” BLACKOUT. Yes indeed, the city of Jerusalem
accidentally cut the power in several Hebrew University buildings on the night of January
13th, in the midst of the Act II, leaving a frightened cast with the responsibility of entertaining
over 200 audience members in the dark. This they did. Kol ha’kavod to the cast of “Les
Miserables”, and we ask that everyone “Raise a glass” to their success. - Zack Lasker
‘Les Miz,’ as
only in Israel
Excerpt of article by Sam Orbaum in
Jerusalem Post Monday, January 18, 1999:
If you’ve seen Les
Miserables anywhere in the
world, I guarantee it was
nothing like the performance I
saw on Wednesday.
The kids of Beit Hillel were
putting on a fine show at
Hebrew University on Mount
Scopus, when something happened.
It’s always interesting to see
how performers react when
things go awry, and
boy, things did. .
We had just settled
into the second
act. The students,
doing a story about
students, were getting
through the
program very nicely,
and the sold-out
audience was lapping
it up.
They had just Finished
the song,
“Drink With Me.”
At that moment,
according to the
synopsis,, “the students
settle down for a night on
the barricades,” and the lights
went out.
Nice touch, I thought.
“/ liked it best when Michael Berl said ‘that’s a wrap’ backstage
after our last performance...
it was truly an emotional moment fo r me.’'’
- Cooper “Javer” Grodin
The cast of Les Miserables