Episode #61: Prayer and Performance

Join us as we chat with Rabbis Toba August and Nina Feinstein about our history of working together within our special program, “Prayer and Performance.” Not only are our Salon performances and their stories entertainment, they also provide a deep and rich gateway into experiencing prayer. Over the years we have worked with Rabbis like Toba and Nina to bring our stories into special holiday and Shabbat Services so that congregants can go on a new journey of prayer. What is it like? Listen to the epsidoe to find out!

If you’re interested in bringing our stories to your community, contact jodi@the-braid.org.

Click Here to view our upcoming events/performances, like Monica Piper’s class and Annie Korzen’s Sunday Morning with the Braid event.

Click Here to submit your story for an upcoming Salon or StoryNosh!

Episode #61: Prayer and Performance2021-11-01T09:53:58-07:00

Episode #60: “Belonging” – a Fall Party Preview

Ready to kick off our 14th season? We sure are! JOIN US on October 10 for our special event, Welcome Back(ish) Fall Party @ 1:30 pm PT / 4:30 pm ET Live on Zoom.

On this episode, hear a brand new recording of “Belonging,” a story that debuted at our 2020 fall party, written and performed by Joshua Reuben Silverstein who is writing a brand new piece for the October 10 event. To hear that one, get your tickets today! And don’t forget to add some raffle tickets at checkout for a chance to win some BIG gift cards from Apple, Amazon, Williams-Sonoma and more.

Episode #60: “Belonging” – a Fall Party Preview2021-09-21T12:56:02-07:00

Episode #59: “That One Was Really Personal” with Jasmine Curry

Frequent cast member and audience favorite Jasmine Curry shares stories from a life of adapting to unexpected turns. What was it like behind-the-scenes to pivot an in-person Salon show into the uncharted Zoom frontier? How has she made virtual improv comedy work without hearing the laughter of an audience? And at the very moment her own spouse was coming out as transgender, what was it like to perform a writer’s story that tapped into those very same overwhelming emotions?

Jasmine Curry trained at New York University, Experimental Theatre Wing, and was a resident actor at Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley, PA. She studied improv and sketch writing with The Groundlings Theatre and iO West. Jasmine has worked in educational theatre with Writers Room Productions, California Weekly Explorer, and The Imagination Machine. She can be seen every Wednesday performing Longform improv online with her improv troupe The Interlocutors. She previously appeared in The Braid salons Family Matters, For Goodness Sake, Sex Love and Addiction in the 21st Century, Living After, and The Way Home. She wrote for the salon Persian Sunrise, American Sunset and is an Abby Freeman Artist-in-Residence at The Braid.

Episode #59: “That One Was Really Personal” with Jasmine Curry2021-08-12T08:32:16-07:00

Episode #58: Meet David Chiu, Our New Staff Member!

On this episode, get to know The Braid’s new Marketing & Communications Manager, David Chiu! Who would have thought that on this episode, two male staff members of The Braid (formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre) would be discussing Paul Greengrass films, Sigourney Weaver’s Oscar nomination for Aliens, and 19th century mythical changelings in Ireland. Oh! And our efforts in shifting the way Jewish culture is portrayed across media. Curious? Have a listen!

David Chiu is a West LA-based screenwriter and two-time NEXT at the Braid Emerging Artists Fellow. His television credits include LORE (Amazon Prime). Writing credits for The Braid include True Colors, Inside Our Time, For Goodness Sake (also Director), I Am a Jew, Who’s Hiding Now? and The Rest is History (also Director & Literary). David is represented by The Gersh Agency and Authentic Talent & Literary. Additionally, David is a member of the Board of Trustees at Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles; recipient of its 2019 Emerging Leader Award. He is an environmental activist and volunteer on various electoral campaigns, a Jew of Color, of Litvak and Cantonese heritage.

Episode #58: Meet David Chiu, Our New Staff Member!2021-07-15T17:37:25-07:00

Episode #57: Audio Replay of Ellen Harper Event

In case you missed it, a free-wheeling conversation with ELLEN HARPER: singer-songwriter, folk music historian, and Jewish mom to famed recording artist Ben Harper. She’ll reveal intimate insights about famed musicians like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Pete Seeger. In addition, she’ll share her own struggles with the anti-Semitism her family faced and the racism she encountered as a single mother raising biracial sons. Whether you love folk music, inspirational women, or someone with stories that make you want to pull up a chair, this is one crackling conversation you won’t want to miss!

Order Ellen’s memoir, ALWAYS A SONG here.

Join us for our next Sunday Morning with The Braid event, CIRCUS JEWS on August 8!

Episode #57: Audio Replay of Ellen Harper Event2021-07-11T14:31:58-07:00

Episode #56: Preview – Stories from the Violins of Hope

Click Here for tickets and more info

The Holocaust had silenced them… until an extraordinary violin-maker brought their voices back to life, and to the world. Seven actors will bring to life the extraordinary story of violins played in ghettos, forests and concentration camps… and of the passionate Israeli violin maker determined to restore them. Now heard in performances all over the world, they are called the Violins of Hope.

On this episode we preview the incredible collaboration coming to you in one performance only on January 31, STORIES FROM THE VIOLINS OF HOPE Click Here for tickets and more info.

You’ll hear about…
-The power of playing one of these violins from virtuoso violinist Niv Ashkenazi, the only violinist in the US with one of the Violin of Hope instruments from the collection
-The writing of the script from The Braid’s Writer, Event Producer and Dramaturg Lisa Rosenbaum
-The directing of the performance from The Braid’s Producing Director Susan Morgenstern
-The curation of the music from LA Jewish Symphony Artistic Director Dr. Noreen Green

This special performance was originally set to debut at Temple Isaiah (Templeishaiah.com) and was part of the Violins of Hope Los Angeles Program Tour (violinsofhopelosangeles.org), produced by Susanne Reyto. Special thanks to Gail Solo, our Angel Donor, whose support helped make this show possible.

Episode #56: Preview – Stories from the Violins of Hope2021-01-21T16:14:57-08:00

Episode #54: Audio Replay of Jewish Women – An Archive of Our Own

In case you missed it…Who are the shoulders we stand on and where can we find their stories? Meet JUDITH ROSENBAUM – feminist, educator, historian, writer, activist—and CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive, the pioneering national organization that documents Jewish women’s stories, elevates their voices, and inspires them to be agents of change!

Visit their website: https://jwa.org

Moderated by author and JWT writer Lisa Rosenbaum. With a dramatic performance by one of JWT’s wonderful actors along with a Q & A.

Click Here for a Video Replay

Judith Rosenbaum, CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive, served for nearly a decade as JWA’s Director of Public History and Director of Education, developing its major programs and educational initiatives. A graduate of Yale University, with a PhD in American Studies from Brown University, she has taught and lectured widely on Jewish studies and women’s studies. She writes for academic, popular journals and blogs including Tablet, The Forward, Huffpost, The Jewish Week. Tikkun Magazine, Sh’ma Magazine, PresenTense, Reform Jewish magazine, My Jewish Learning, Kveller, Role/Reboot, and in anthologies.

Click Here to join us September 6 @ 11am PDT for our next Sunday Morning at The Braid virtual event, THE COMEDY OF COPING with celebrated writers Cindy Chupack and Annabelle Gurwitch

Episode #54: Audio Replay of Jewish Women – An Archive of Our Own2020-08-24T15:55:16-07:00

Episode #53: Audio Replay of Virus Tsuris with Mental Health Experts

In case you missed it, Mental Health experts help us find inner strength, courage and compassion as the current pandemic takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride. Our guests, psychiatrist Shelly Cohen M.D, J.D. and clinical psychologist Anita Siegman Ph. D, will help us understand and manage the responses of our bodies and minds.

Click Here for a Video Replay

Moderated by Maureen Rubin, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, Cal State Northridge. With a dramatic performance by one of JWT’s wonderful actors along with a Q & A.

For a list of Mental Health Resources, as mentioned in the event head to https://the-braid.org/mhresources

Dr. Shelly Cohen’s Top 10 ways to Stay Healthy/Positive During Pandemic:
-Keep a routine
-Sleep
-Exercise
-Eat well
-Help others where you can
-Refrain from reading the news all day
-Stay connected to others
-Get help if you’re feeling overwhelmed from a mental health provider
-Try to find meaning for yourself during this time
-Take vacation

Shelly Cohen M.D, J.D. is a graduate of NYU School of Medicine and a board-certified adult psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health and reproductive psychiatry. She treats adults with mood, anxiety, OCD, ADHD bipolar and psychiatric disorders with a holistic and patient centered approach.

Anita Siegman Ph. D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and, for the past 20 years, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine. During her doctoral training at USC, she became the founder and Director of Counseling and Psychological Services.

Click Here to join us August 23 @ 11am PDT for our next Sunday Morning at The Braid virtual event, JEWISH WOMEN: AN ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN with Judith Rosenbaum, CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive

Episode #53: Audio Replay of Virus Tsuris with Mental Health Experts2020-12-08T17:06:11-08:00

Episode #52: Audio Replay of Dressing Hollywood! with Debra McGuire

In case you missed it, a talk with award-winning costume designer DEBRA MCGUIRE. Plus a photo fashion show of Debra’s work and audience Q & A.

Click Here for Video Replay

Moderated by Arlene Sarner, award-winning writer/producer.

Fashion Designer and Costume Designer DEBRA MCGUIRE is best known for her 10 years on TVs FRIENDS. Scores of other TV shows include NEW GIRL, FRESH OFF THE BOAT and SPEECHLESS. Film projects include ANCHORMAN and SONIC (The Hedgehog). Currently, she’s designing for Jennifer Aniston for THE MORNING SHOW and the upcoming FRIENDS reunion. A passionate theatre lover she’s created costumes for Dolly Parton and won Best Costume Design for the play Atlanta, and nominated for Best Costume Design for David Mamet’s BOSTON MARRIAGE. In 2016 she designed the original musical, I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU (written by Arlene Sarner and Jerry Leichtling,), was nominated for several OVATION awards.

Click Here to join us August 9 @ 11am PDT for our next Sunday Morning at The Braid virtual event, VIRUS TSURIS: Jewish Mental Health practitioners talk about coping in our shutdown world.

Episode #52: Audio Replay of Dressing Hollywood! with Debra McGuire2020-07-28T08:45:14-07:00

Episode #51: Audio Replay of Fierce, Funny and Fabulously Alive

In case you missed it, a talk and Q&A with Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director of Theatre J, America’s premier Jewish Theater in Washington DC, and award-winning playwright Alix Sobler. Moderated by author and JWT writer Lisa Rosenbaum.

The lights of Yiddish theater have dimmed, but Jewish theater is alive and well in America today. What makes a play Jewish? What are the new Jewish playwrights saying and who are they speaking to?

July 26 @ 11am PDT! Join us for our next Sunday Morning at The Braid event, Dressing Hollywood! with Costume Designer Debra McGuire (Friends, The Morning Show)
Click Here for Registration

Episode #51: Audio Replay of Fierce, Funny and Fabulously Alive2020-07-28T08:44:15-07:00

Episode #50: Audio Replay of Double Lives, with Esther Amini and Jacqueline Saper

In case you missed it, a conversation with the writers of new autobiographies that reveal the struggles and triumphs of growing up Jewish and Persian—both in Iran and America.

Esther Amini is a writer, painter and psychotherapist.  Her stories have appeared in Elle, Lilith, and The Jewish Week, among others.  Her funny, poignant and uplifting debut memoir Concealed, Memoir of a Jewish-Iranian Daughter Caught Between the Chador and America tells of being a first-generation American with Jewish-Iranian parents still mired in Mashhad.

The multitalented Jacqueline Saper was born and raised by an Iranian father and British mother, and has always been a bridge between East and West. Her deeply intimate and personal story From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran, takes us from her privileged childhood, through Iran’s social revolution and women’s changing roles.

Order Esther’s book Concealed by clicking here – Follow Esther on Instagram and Facebook.

Order Jacqueline’s book From Miniskirt to Hijab by clicking here – Follow Jacqueline on Instagram and Facebook.

Join us for our next Sunday Morning at The Braid virtual event, July 12, 11am PDT – FIERCE, FUNNY AND FABULOUSLY ALIVE: JEWISH THEATER IN AMERICA with Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director of Theatre J, America’s premiere Jewish Theatre in Washington, DC and award-winning playwright Alix Sobler. CLICK HERE to register.

Episode #50: Audio Replay of Double Lives, with Esther Amini and Jacqueline Saper