Episode #38: Thanksgiving with a Persian-Jewish Twist

Happy Thanksgiving!! On today’s episode, a delicious treat for you…we are proud to present a recording of a classic, beloved piece from our Salon Saffron & Rosewater, which highlighted the experiences of Iranian Jews through a fragrant evening of incredible stories, song, and lovely surprises. Hear a celebration of being Jewish and American with Saffron Rice and Cranberry Sauce, written by Esther Amini and performed by Roxana Rastegar.

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Saffron Rice and Cranberry Sauce
Written by Esther Amini adapted from A Persian Thanksgiving, published in The Jewish Week, Performed by Roxana Rastegar

Click here for more info on Saffron & Rosewater

Don’t forget to grab your tickets for A Very Happy Goyisha Hanukkah and The Wendy Chronicles!

Episode #38: Thanksgiving with a Persian-Jewish Twist2019-11-24T08:27:56-08:00

Episode #33: Both/And from True Colors!

“I emerged from the birth canal strangling on the umbilical cord.  I wonder if God was giving me a chance to change my mind: are you certain you want this adventure of life as a Cuban Catholic daughter of a Jewish mother?”

On this episode, hear the incredibly moving piece “Both/And,” one of the favorite stories from the hit show True Colors which returns to The Braid in Santa Monica for four performances September 19-22. Written by Maria Ramos-Chertok and performed by Heidi Mendez (bios below), “Both/And” is from the collection of pieces that makes up our wildly popular Salon show True Colors – full of humorous, revealing and inspiring stories from Jews of Color exploring identity, community and being a Jew in modern times.

TRUE COLORS CREDITS
Material Adapted, Curated, and Producedby Ronda Spinak
Producedby Eric Greene
Directed by Susan Morgenstern
Dramaturges Lisa Rosenbaum & Susan Baskin
Literary Manager Suzanna Kaplan
South Bay Producer Liz Altman
San Francisco/Bay Area Producer Carol Kirsh
Assistant Producer Barbara Koletsky
Associate Producers Rose Ziff & Susie Yuré
Artistic Associate Daphna Shull
Assistant Artistic Director Andrew Fromer

Starring: Brie Eley, Kimberly Green, Heidi Mendez, Joshua Silverstein and Katherine Washington

Written By: Ruth Behar, Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl, David Chiu, Marcos Cohen, Courtenay Edelhart, Marra B. Gad, Marissa Tiamfook Gee, M.A. Hosein, Maria Ramos-Chertok, Larry M. Sanders, and Joshua Silverstein

Featured on this episode:
Both/And
Written by Maria Ramos-Chertok. Performed by Heidi Mendez.

MARIA RAMOS-CHERTOK (Writer) is a writer, workshop leader, and coach who facilitates the Butterfly Series, a writing and creative arts workshop for women who want to explore what’s next. Her book, The Butterfly Series: Fifty-two Weeks of Inquiries for Transformation, was published in August 2018. She is finalizing her debut novel, Rosie’s Blues, inspired by the experience of her mother opening their family home in Hackensack, New Jersey, as a shelter for battered women and children. Maria’s manuscript won the 2018 Adult Fiction Mentorship prize from the Word for Diversity. She is a contributor to All the Women in My Family Sing: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom (Feb. 2018), edited by Deborah Santana, and She’s Got This! Essays on Standing Strong and Moving On (Feb. 2019), a Write-on Mamas project. Since 2014, she’s cohosted women’s salons showcasing women-of-color artists. For more info, visit: www. mariaramoschertok.com.

HEIDI MENDEZ (Actor) is a bilingual actor/director/educator who has worked professionally in Madrid, Mexico City, Utah, Texas, and now California. Her favorite roles include Lady Bracknell, Prospero, and most recently Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. Some favorite shows as director/choreographer include Cats, Working, Fiddler, and The Diary of Anne Frank. She is known as the Rapping Grandma to kids in juvie where she volunteered for two years which led her to be founder/director of ACT RISK NO MORE, a nonprofit whose mission is to rescue troubled teens through theater. Heidi is married to Nick (a Mormon bishop) and is the mother of three boys, resulting in her being afraid nothing. For fun, Heidi takes hip-hop classes and plays dress- up with her granddaughter. Education: BA in acting from BYU and MA in directing from Texas State, plus two Utah teaching certificates for theater and Spanish.

For more info on True Colors, click here.

Episode #33: Both/And from True Colors!2019-10-17T16:26:19-07:00

Episode #19: Sacred Resistance Update with Vicki Juditz and Ronda Spinak

On this week’s episode, Andrew sits down with the incredible storyteller Vicki Juditz, creator and star of the now OVATION RECOMMENDED Sacred Resistance, as well as JWT’s Artistic Director Ronda Spinak. They chat about the latest extension of dates for the show (Must close October 7th!) and discuss the amazing, heartwarming and surprising reactions that audiences are having to this show. PLUS a special preview clip from a performance! Have a listen and don’t forget to grab your tickets:

Sacred Resistance Credits:
Written and Performed by Vicki Juditz
Directed by Susan Morgenstern
Produced by Ronda Spinak 
Lighting Designer Ernest McDaniel
Stage Manager  Michelle A. Prudente
Associate Producers Susie Yuré & Rose Ziff
Artistic Associate Daphna Shull

Sacred Resistance was made possible with generous gifts from Annette & Leonard Shapiro and from Gail Solo.

For more info on Sacred Resistance, click here.

Episode #19: Sacred Resistance Update with Vicki Juditz and Ronda Spinak2019-02-19T19:20:05-08:00

Episode #18: Story from a Prison Cell – Leslie Schwartz

Prepare for your Days of Awe with a Book Talk by award-winning author Leslie Schwartz. Her powerful new memoir: “The Lost Chapters: Finding Recovery and Renewal One Book at a Time” is one of atonement, transcendence, and of a passionate love of words. Join us for a light brunch, brief performance and discussion with Leslie about her transformational experience after being arrested and sentenced to 90-days in LA County jail…

Sunday August 26th,  10am-noon at The Braid in Santa Monica

Episode #18: Story from a Prison Cell – Leslie Schwartz2019-02-19T19:23:51-08:00

Episode #16: My Bad, My Good (Abridged)

Opening Song:
I’ll Raise My Voice
Music and Lyrics by Rachel Gold
Performed by Bobby Conte-Thornton, Rachel Gold, Ellie Fishman, and Alex Prakken with pianist Eric Fegan, from the song cycle SONGS FROM FARAWAY PLACES
On today’s episode, we revisit another beloved show from JWT’s past, featuring more honest, revealing and funny confessions from millennials of pivotal moments in life – learning to love, settling the score, figuring out what makes someone Jewish, and other stories in this one-of-a-kind show that will make you rethink your views about a new generation!The pieces featured in this episode are:

A Jewish Pastry
Written by Anna Forward
Performed by Lisa Cirincione and Sean Topps

Father in Me
Written by Paul Versten
Performed by Sean Topps

Motherly Love
Written by Lili Nanus
Performed by Matisse Rose and Arva Rose

The Designated Mourner
Written by Lizzie Shackney
Performed by Mirai Booth-Ong

Closing song:

Throw Out
Music and lyrics by Pontea Banayan
Recorded and Performed by Pontea Banayan

Material Adapted and Produced by Ronda Spinak
Directed by Susan Morgenstern
Assistant Director 
Lisa Cirincione
JWT Producer Jodie Mendelson
House Producers Elana Polan, Josh Hillinger and Sam Mandel

We’d also like to thank NuRoots, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and Moishe House for their support and partnership

Click for more info on My Bad, My Good

 

Episode #16: My Bad, My Good (Abridged)2018-07-01T08:54:02-07:00

Episode #1: The Space Between

The Space Between explores humorous, heartbreaking and surprising stories that cut to the heart of what divides us and illuminate the yearnings and struggles, successes and failures of reaching out to find common ground.This is a groundbreaking new show created by the first generation of NEXT @ The Braid, JWT’s Young Professionals Arts Council. These 12 up-and-coming young artists have brought together stories, songs, poems and plays to create a unique theatrical experience that hope to bridge the gap in a time of intense divisions.

2017 NEXT Arts Council Fellows: Amirose Eisenbach, Sigi Gradwohl, Abigail Marks, Chelsea London Lloyd, Andrew Fromer, Christian Alexander Prentice, Daphna Shull, Rachel Berney Needleman, Lisa Cirincione, Vicki Schairer, and Vanessa Espino. With Arts Council Producer: Abbe Meryl Feder and JWT Leadership: Artistic Director Ronda Spinak, Managing Director, Sharon Landau and Producing Director Susan Morgenstern

Performed by: Donnabella Mortel, Jesse Macht, Kyla Schoer, Michael Hanson, and Zoe Lillian.

Featuring stories by Rachelle Davidowitz, Adam Rotstein, Kaitlin Mamie, Sigi Gradwohl, Art Alonso, Daphna Shull, Julie Mayerson Brown, Max Mondi, Molly Murray, Vanessa Espino, Vicki Schairer and Abby Marks.

Featuring music by Jesse Macht, Dan Omelio and Emily Kitter.

Recorded in front of a live audience at The Braid in Santa Monica, CA on June 23, 2017.With generous support from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, Erwin Rautenberg Foundation, and Dennis Schuman Charitable Fund.

NEXT is a program of JWT. Artistic Director: Ronda Spinak; Managing Director: Sharon Landau; Producing Director: Susan Morgenstern.

More information is available at https://www.jewishwomenstheatre.org/showsevents/performances/past-shows-2/the-space-between/


 

Episode #1: The Space Between2018-02-05T10:46:23-08:00