Annie Korzen Famous Actress

Aug. 3, 2017 – Oct. 22, 2017

PRESS

THE PROGRAM

Written and Performed by Annie Korzen

Directed by Susan Morgenstern

Produced by Ronda Spinak

Assistant Producer/Stage Manager Barbara Koletsky

Technical Director Michelle Altman

Lighting Designer Barbara Koletsky & Daniel McNay

Video/Audio Production Andrew Fromer

Associate Producers Susie Yuré & Rose Ziff

Annie Korzen Famous Actress is a commission of Jewish Women’s Theatre
made possible with a grant from Gail Solo

ARTIST BIOS

Annie was the recurring Doris Klompus on Seinfeld. She is well-known in the spoken word circuit in Los Angeles and New York, and she teaches storytelling. Annie has had the honor of touring with The Moth Mainstage throughout the U. S. and can be heard on The Moth Radio Hour. She has performed her solo shows on three continents. Annie is the author of Bargain Junkie: Living the Good Life on the Cheap, and has done humorous essays for NPR’s Morning Edition, The NY Times, LA Times, LA Jewish Journal, AARP, and many more. She has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and Tavis Smiley, and the late Roger Ebert loved her on www.OldJewsTellingJokes.com. Annie is some- times happily married to Danish film producer Benni Korzen (Oscar-winning Babette’s Feast.) Annie is proud to be an artist-in-residenceat Jewish Women’s Theatre, and will be forever grateful for the gentle guid- ance Ronda Spinak, JWT Artistic Director, has given her in developing these stories. Anything else you want to know about Annie will be mentioned in the show. If you still have a question, just ask her afterwards. She has no secrets. www.AnnieKorzen.com.

SUSAN MORGENSTERN (Director) began directing in college, by staging musical theatre concert readings while co-teaching American Musical Comedy with Tom Lehrer at UC Santa Cruz. She went on to teach and direct at the renowned Stage Door Manor, a performing-arts camp in upstate New York. Los Angeles productions include: at Theatre West – selections from David Ives’ All in the Timing, the musicals Just Too Cool, book by Mary Garripoli, music by Phil Orem, Saturday Night at Grossinger’s, book by Stephen Cole, music by Claibe Richardson, as well as Barbara Nell Beery’s play, The Socialization
of Ruthie Shapiro; at the Falcon Theatre – Leap, by Arnold Margolin, Surviving Sex, by David Landsberg, and the hit comedy, The Psychic, by Sam Bobrick. At the Whitefire Theatre, she directed Richard Martin Hirsch’s Memorizing Rome. Susan directed Happy Days, a New Musical, book by Garry Marshall, music/ lyrics by Paul Williams, at Cabrillo Music Theatre’s 1800 seat auditorium. For the Skylight Theatre, she directed an INKubator series fully staged presentation of Ghost-s, a Musical About a Musical, book by Kincaid Jones, music by Brian Woodbury, as well as an extended run production of Meryl Cohn’s comedy Reasons to Live. Most recently, she co-authored and directed I’m Not Famous: A Musical Journey with Barbara Minkus, which is enjoying an extended run at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Susan works as a consultant show director at Disneyland Parks and Resorts, Anaheim, where she has the privilege of working with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and all their pals. She has directed numerous JWT salon shows, and is especially proud to be Producing Director, working closely with a tremendous group of brilliant, creative women.

RONDA SPINAK (Producer) created and produces JWT’s At-Homes Salon Theatre Series, now in its eighth season. To date she has curated more than 28 original Jewish-themed salon shows for JWT, as well as adapted hundreds of pieces to the stage used in the salons. Ronda is very proud to have commissioned and worked with Monica to bring Not That Jewish to fruition. Educated at Stanford University, she also holds degrees from UCLA (MBA) and USC (masters in professional writing). Ronda has written many plays, including Stories from the Fringe and festival-winner Oscar Wilde’s Wife, a favorite at the Ashland New Play Festival and Dayton’s FuturFest. She has written for the Emmy Award-winning children’s show Rugrats and authored the critically acclaimed nonfiction book ProBodX: Proper Body Exercise (HarperCollins, publisher). Ronda is on the board of the Association for Jewish Theatres, is a member of the Dramatist Guild, and has served twice as a grant reviewer for the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. She feels especially blessed to be working with the many talented and inspiring women who are giving so generously to Jewish Women’s Theatre. She thanks ADR for his love, inspiration, and help.

MICHELLE ALTMAN (Technical Director) graduated from Drake University with a BFA in theatre/acting in 2012. Since then she has been performing, writing, and directing in Chicago. Performance credits include Silent Night of the Living Dead, The Cherry Orchard (Charlotta) and Beast Women (Standup/ performance art). Directing credits include The Chocolate Affair, Sure Thing, A Smell of Burnt Feathers, Immature (co-writer), When Angels Wept, Everybody Needs a Good Night Out, and The Titus Andronicus Project (co-writer). Thank you to all who support the arts community!

BARBARA KOLETSKY (Stage Manager/Assistant Producer) has most recently worked on the production side of Jewish Women’s Theatre. Prior to that, for three seasons she was responsible for catering. Now Barbara is thrilled to be moving into stage management for JWT at The Braid. Barbara is also the owner of RSVP Party Planning, where as an experienced party planner she has produced many events, specializing in charitable organizations but with many corporate and private clients as well. Barbara was born in New York and moved to California for a career in marketing and promotions for Polygram Records and Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. She regularly volunteers at the Grossman Burn Center with her service dog, Rodney.

DAN MCNAY (Lighting Design) designs and builds custom light fixtures for Home Decor. He has been involved in concert, dance, theatrical and corporate events contributing lighting, set, sound, design and technical direction. He’s worked projects in the music and other industries such as; Barbara Streisand / Sheryl Crow / Keiko Matsui / Boeing. He enjoys small, intimate and immersive works. His work can be seen on Facebook at Daniel R McNay and Ray Daniels Designs. 4yourLD@gmail.com.

ANDREW FROMER (NEXT Marketing), a Los Angeles native, grew up as an active member in the Jewish community through Stephen Wise Temple. He attended Windward School in Mar Vista, where his acting career began in plays and musicals. After completing his BFA in theater at UC Santa Barbara and an exciting year of living in Israel, Andrew took a dive into filmmaking and has since branched into production by helping prepare for distribution two feature films he has acted in: AMP Creative’s Highway to Havasu (dir. Jeff Janke) and Mockingbird Pictures’ The Sweet Life (dir. Rob Spera). Andrew also edits, directs, and hosts his own podcast on the entertainment industry, SideKickBack Radio, which can be found at www.sidekickback.com.

SUSIE YURÉ (Associate Producer) has volunteered for 30 years in nonprofit organizations, where she has held leadership roles in fundraising, event planning, facilities coordinating, programming, membership, marketing, and administration. Susie has produced musical theatre productions, classical concerts, and cabaret performances and has been intensely involved in the world of theatre for more than 20 years. She holds a BA and MA in elementary education from USC, along with her California lifetime teaching credential. Her favorite role is mom to her two talented (grown) children, who are both professional (and working) musicians.
ROSE ZIFF (Associate Producer) is new to performing arts. She came out of retirement after working at UCLA Medical Center for 33 years, where she functioned as “den mother” to more than 1000 interns, residents, and clinical fellows at UCLA, the VA, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Centers, providing resources and support. Rose is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Lev Eisha, a Jewish women’s nonprofit religious organization and spiritual community.

GALLERY

Photos by Jan Burns