The Blessing of a Broken Heart
February 11 – March 20, 2016
This one-woman show follows Sherri Mandell, a young American mother, who moves her family from Maryland to the wilderness of Israel in search of meaning and adventure. When a shocking tragedy hits her family, she embarks on a profound journey of discovery and spiritual transcendence.



THE PROGRAM
Starring Lisa Robins
Director Todd Salovey
Assistant Director Ali Viterbi
Producer Ronda Spinak, JWT Artistic Director
Set Designer Giulio Perrone
Lighting Designer Kristin Swift Hayes
Costume Designer Mary Larsen
Sound and Projections Supervisor Tom Jones
Original Projection Design Mitch Perlitch
Associate producer/stage manager: Barbara Koletsky
Associate producers: Susie Yuré, Rose Ziff, Patrick Conde
Developed and originally produced by San Diego Repertory Theatre,
January 2008, Sam Woodhouse, Artistic Director;
Larry Alldredge, Managing Director
ARTIST BIOS
Special thanks to Todd Salovey who allowed Lisa to help hone the script while giving her a Jewish education to enrich her character (and her life), Ronda Spinak for giving Blessing an LA home, all the previous kids and families involved with Blessing, and Rabbi Naomi Levy, who so generously gave Renata her education and bat mitzvah. Robbie, who taught her how to survive deep grief, Kitty, Rick & family for being here, and to Lisa’s most stellar work of art, Renata, who has taught her the deep riches of what it means to be a mother.
Holocaust (Facts on File, 1999) and has written for numerous magazines and journals. She currently blogs at The Times of Israel. She received Moment Magazine’s prize for best short fiction in 2009 and a Simon Rockower prize for the personal essay in 2011. She and her husband are also the recipient of the ADL Partners in Peace Award, and she was one of Jewish Women International’s Women to Watch. She and her family live in Israel. Kobymandell.org. Facebook: Sherri Mandell sherri@kobymandell.org. mandellsherri@twitter
ALI VITERBI (Associate Director) is honored to work on this very special and important play. A recent graduate of Yale, Ali now lives in New York City and divides her time between her two greatest passions: acting and playwriting. Ali assistant-directed the Old Globe’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, dir. Mark Lamos, as well as the San Diego Rep’s The Who’s Tommy, dir. Sam Woodhouse. Her plays have had productions and workshops across the country, from New York to California, Georgia, Connecticut, and even Alaska. Ali has also been fortunate to play some of Shakespeare’s greatest heroines in New York City, including Desdemona and Cleopatra. Eight years ago, Ali played Sherri’s daughter in The Blessing of a Broken Heart at the San Diego Rep, and she is excited to once again work with Todd, Lisa, and the team in a different capacity.
The Blessing of a Broken Heart
June 6 – 8, 2011
THE PROGRAM
Produced by Ronda Spinak
Directed and Adapted by Todd Salovey
Material based on the book by Sherri Mandell
Co-Produced by Andrea Wagner
Associate Producer Susie Yuré
Welcome ~ Ronda Spinak, Producing Artistic Director JWT
Blessing ~ Rabbi Lynne A. Kern
The Blessing of a Broken Heart, starring Lisa Robins
Q & A Post Show