By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — Who would ever have thought that a musical could be written around the tragedy of 9/11? And furthermore, who ever would have thought that such a musical could be joyous and fun!? Yet somehow, that is exactly what Irene Sankoff and David Hein have done in Come From Away
‘Come From Away’ Underscores the Kindness of Strangers Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Alan Zeitlin (JNS) When Michael Aloni’s agent told him about “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” he was a bit confused. “Since when is there a beauty pageant in Jerusalem?” Aloni recalled asking at the time, at an event last week at Temple Emanu-El’s Streicker Center in New York City. He’d just finished filming the
Does Netflix’s ‘Beauty Queen of Jerusalem’ Live Up to the Hype? Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — Ali Viterbi has been on my radar ever since I attended my first performance of Women of Valor at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. Viterbi co-authored that play with Artistic Director Todd Salovey, Leah Salovey, Sarah Price-Keating, and Rebecca Myers. It continues to showcase San Diego’s very own
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH — Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits is the delightful comic relief that we’ve all been waiting for. Thank you, North Coast Rep for providing this playful romp that might have otherwise been titled Broadway Bloopers or Broadway Barbs. The extremely talented cast includes director and performer William Selby, Cathy Barnett, Trisha
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — Not everyone gets to have his birthday parade in Heritage Park in Old Town, San Diego, and enjoy performances in his honor. But then again, the Bard is not just anybody! William Shakespeare’s birthday and his accomplishments are the focus of the 17th Annual San Diego Shakespeare Festival.
San Diego Shakespeare Festival Encourages Students to Recreate Famed Scenes Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastMy son and I got a chance to see the opening night performance. As with every other show I’ve seen at the Civic Theatre, we ran into people that I knew as soon as we walked in. This time it was Bar Mitzvah planner Lydia Krasner and her husband Ron. I am not a “Renthead,” having never seen the musical in the quarter century between the time it started touring at the La Jolla Playhouse to this final touring performance. It was fortunate that we ran into Lydia and Krasner, because Lydia is really knowledgeable about the show and was able to explain some of the plot points that we found confusing. [Sandi Masori]
New to ‘Rent,’ I Was Glad Someone Was There to Explain Read More »
Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Toby Klein Greenwald (JNS) Raise Your Spirits Theatre released, on the morning of April 15, on the eve of Passover, the video (for women only) and audio recording (for everyone) of our latest biblical musical, “REBECCA! Mother of Two Dynasties.” It is a story of great faith, love, courage, and the hope of reconciliation
After Persisting During Pandemic, Israeli Theater Can Now Share the Fruits of its Labor Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald
By Alan Zeitlin (JNS) First, Harry Haft fought to save his life. Then, he boxed to find the woman he wanted to be his wife. Born Jewish in Poland, Haft was sent to Auschwitz after the Nazi Germans invade in September 1939. There, he met an especially brutal Nazi named Dietrich Schneider—played by an impressive
Ben Foster Fights for His Life in ‘The Survivor’ Read More »
Holocaust, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — My friend Ami and I went to see Tootsie produced by Broadway San Diego at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Wednesday night. We had both seen the movie starring Jewish actor Dustin Hoffman back in the 1980s, so we really weren’t sure what to expect. How could they adapt
Civic Theatre’s ‘Tootsie’ Proves the Movie Was Worth Adapting Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — In 1982, when the film Tootsie was released, it seemed Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson, Elaine May, and Murray Schisgal had birthed a winning story delivered by a star-studded cast. Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, and Dabney Coleman told the story of a talented but volatile actor who had
Reimagined ‘Tootsie’ Poised to Delight San Diego Audiences Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eva Trieger SCRIPPS RANCH, California — It seems it is not possible to pigeonhole Marti Gobel, the multifaceted, highly talented San Diego native. Aside from film credits such as Game Day, Chicago PD, Gettin’ Kicks, and Spare Change, Gobel is a director, cinematographer, adjunct professor at three universities, and a public speaker! Local audiences
Marti Gobel: Scripps Ranch Theater Show About More Than ‘Just the Black Director’ Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Sam Ben-Meir This March 24 marked 50 years since the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972), a film which has garnered such praise since it first appeared in theaters that it hardly seems necessary to rehearse its countless and well-deserved accolades. It is undoubtedly one of those few cinematic works of art
‘The Godfather,’ 50 Years Later Read More »
Sam Ben-Meir, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — It’s time to share my Oscar predictions for the major categories. Although my accuracy is usually 80% to 90% depending on the year, prognosticating has become trickier as the Academy has expanded its membership and altered how it conducts its elections. Rather than provide my preferences, I base my
Oscar Predictions for 2022 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — If you ever wanted to know who put the “fun” in dysfunctional, all hands point towards the North Coast Rep’s latest cast of The Homecoming. This offbeat, quirky, Pinter play is a hilarious romp from start to finish. Kudos to David Ellenstein for directing this British comedy, and
North Coast Rep’s ‘The Homecoming’ Puts the Fun in Dysfunctional Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast