Welcome to
Creating Musical Theatre in Israel!
Who's who in the cast
Einat Azulay (Mrs Greer, Broadway Wannabee-NYC) has been singing, dancing and acting since childhood. She studied in Beit Zvi, and is now studying for her first degree in music as a singer at the Jerusalem Academy for Music & Dance. She works as an actress in Elrom Studios, where she dubs and sings in cartoon TV shows. She performed in "Annie" in 2001, directed by Menahem Golan, as one of the orphans.
Mimi Borowich (Mrs. Pugh, Hooverite) is thrilled to be acting in Annie for the second time! Other acting credits include Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, the Sound of Music, and A...My Name is Alice. A proud Barnard-Columbia graduate, Mimi loves singing her heart out with her a capella group Kolture Shock, and has sung solo in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. If you'd like to hear more, you can listen to Mimi on the radio every Tue. & Wed. on www.RustyMikeRadio.com. Mimi would like to thank God & Nefesh B'Nefesh for enticing her to make aliyah to Israel last year, and her family & friends for helping to ease the transition!
Amanda Brief (Miss Hannigan) is a confusing bundle of emotion and excitement, with hopefully some talent mixed in. She just graduated from Cornell University in May, with a major in Biology and Society; please don't ask her to explain what that is, because she doesn't know. Favorite past roles include Woman 2 in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the Narrator in Joseph and The Flood in Vagina Monologues. She is currently interning at Eretz Magazine in Tel Aviv. She would like to thank everyone who contributed to the decisions and actions that lead to her Israeli debut, including her parents, cousin Aviva, and nephew Nyack. She is dedicating her performance to her late Uncle Jerry z''l. Enjoy Miss Hannigan's shenanigans!
Sarit Brown (Lily), 19 years old from Beit Shemesh (originally Ottawa) has several years of performing experience on her resume. Sarit participated in several plays (at the same time!) including "Voices" (Professional Women's Theater) the annual Directors' Showcase (Center Stage Theater), The Vagina Monologues (BaMatMaBat) and Oklahoma (Encore), during last year. Sarit has a passion for the theater and the performing arts in general, and also enjoys working "backstage", whether it entails doing hair and makeup, helping with the set, or just calming nerves. She is proud to be part of Israel's English speaking spectrum of theatrical productions and looks forward to participating in a new project, which is to be a web-based comedy series with Holding the Sun Productions.
Benny Firszt (Harold Ickes, Hooverite) has been acting since 2007. He has appeared in Rent and The Accomplices, among other shows. Benny also occassionally performs stand-up comedy as a hobby. He indulges his passion, music, as the lead singer and songwriter of the rock bandm "The Beanbag Ninjas". His dream and goal is to be a multi-instrumentalist. Hope you enjoy the show.
Shira Knopp (Pepper), 12 years old, has been a member of her school choir since first grade. She has four years of studio experience recording songs and narration for the English language teaching company UPP. She has been playing piano for the past 6 years, and this year started voice lessons. In her spare time she plays for a girls soccer team and is an active member of the Noam youth movement.
Leah Lipsey (Annie) was a late great development in the Lipsey family and, as the last child of four, has had the opportunity to already live in 3 different continents. When she was born, the attending nurse was heard to comment "Great pair of lungs on that one!" and that voice has indeed put Leah at centre stage for today's performance of "Annie". When she is not singing on stage, she is softly crooning to the children that she babysits in Modiin and, needless to say, she is a big hit with this young but "captivated" audience. She has sung in several school performances and plays a mean flute. She loves to clean and organize and the Lipsey Shabbat table is always decorated with her trademark folded knapkins. As you will see, the sun indeed will come out when Leah Lipsey sings!
Yisrael Levitt (Drake, Hooverite) is a family physician who made Aliya 13 years ago. He has appeared in many productions for the Stage 80 Theater group in Manchester, the Old Barn Theater in Orot and for TACT. His varied roles have included Leon Trotsky, ugly stepsister Euthanasia in "Cinderella", Danny in the musical "Checking In", and Hancock in "1776". He appeared as a British soldier in the acclaimed movie "The Little Traitor". He is currently preparing for his role as a burglar in "The Window Cleaner" by Gillian Plowman to be performed at the Old Barn Theater in April.
Stacey Maltin (Grace Farrell, Production Manager) has been acting since she was 8 years old and hopes to be doing it for her entire life. She moved to New York at 18 and attended New York University Tisch School of the Arts for drama. She started producing theater in her Junior year and ran an Off-Broadway not for profit theater group called Ashberry Productions. She has played numerous stage roles as well as performing in voice overs, commercials, and the occasional soap opera. Stacey is very happy to continue her love of theater here in Israel. Much love to my family and friends both in and out of Israel. You make my life awesome.
Nosson Kohn (Louis Howe, Radio Announcer) was a member of the Toras Emes Boys Choir for 3 consecutive years. He acted in Nike's feature film "Nothing But the Truth" in September 2007, as a fake camera man dressed in drag, He also starred in multiple roles in "The Search for Caravaggio" released in 2007, as a Singing Monk. Nosson has starred in 3 Jewish Impact films, headed by David Sacks, writer and producer of such hits as "The Simpsons" and "Malcom in the Middle," starring in carwash, as well as Shaboss and Shavuos. Nosson starred in 5 comedy commercials for Ace, and starred in a commercial for profiler1.com .
Yisrael Lutnick (Bert Healy, Cordell Hull, Staff, Director) discovered his passion for musical theatre at age 8, when he saw 1776 in upstate NY. Since then, he has written and recorded two original CDs, performed cabarets in Israel and the USA. He created Israel Musicals when he produced his original show, “If I Could Rewrite the World”. He has performed as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, John Adams in 1776 (the play, not the year!) and appeared in many other local productions. In his first directorial production, Yisrael has been blessed with the support of his wife Amy, and the talent and dedication of the whole production team, especially Stacey, Amy and Shuky. It has been a thrill to work with the talented actors and awesome kids of Annie.
Racheli Ozeri (Duffy) was born and raised in New York City and made Aliyah to Efrat in 2007. She has been on her way to the stage ever since she could walk and talk. Whether it’s singing, dancing, or just plain drama, Cheli’s in her element. Cheli has performed in school productions ranging from Tanach stories to talent shows. The part of Duffy in “Annie” brings all Cheli’s talents together and is her first step on the stairway to the stars.
Sarah Pardes (Tessie) was born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1997. She made Aliyah in August 2009 and has been dancing for 7 years at the Flic Flac dance school of Belgium, where she also took theatre classes. She was chosen to be in a group that the dance school would send to Paris every year to dance with the world renowned dance school l’Opera de Paris. Now she dance in the Conservatory of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, at the Hebrew University. Sarah appeared in dance shows at le Palais des Beaux arts in Brussels, le Centre Culturel d'Uccle, and le Centre Culturel de Woluwe. She has always loved the stage, whether it was in theatre, a choir or a dance show.
Hallel Rabinowitz (July) is in seventh grade and is twelve years old. she learns in "Or Torah Stone" school for girls in Ramot. She loves to dance, sing, act, and do art projects. Hallel dances classical and modern ballet. She also enjoys reading and writing. She has appeared as an Indian in Peter Pan, an Emerald Citizen / Poppy / Jitterbug in The Wizard of Oz, and played the role of Lisa in Tender Offer.
Shira Saffern (Molly) is making her debut in the production of Annie The Musical. She is 9 years old and is in the 4th grade at Meusat Neriah in Modiin. She made aliyah with her family at the age of 3 from Teaneck, NJ. She wanted to experience what it was like to be part of a musical and was delighted to be chosen for the role of Molly. Shira enjoys drawing, reading, playing piano, participating in Ezra youth group, and spending time with her friends and family. In the past, she took pleasure in performing in ballet and gymnastic recitals. She looks forward to more opportunities for acting and singing in the future.
Marnie Schamroth (Hooverite, Cecille) is a 15 year old 9th grade student in Ulpanat Tzvia Omaniyot, Ramat Eshkol, Jerusalem. She made aliya from Baltimore to Ramat Bet Shemesh when she was 6. She has been involved in theater from a young age. She sang and danced in Zir Chemed production of Oliver Twist. She has had dancing roles in local Bet Shemesh productions. She was one of the lead dancers in the production Circle of Faith, and has danced modern, jazz, hip-hop and tap in many talent show fundraisers in Bet Shemesh. She is excited to play many roles this evening in Annie.
Ronit Shuler (Francis Perkins, Connie Boylan, Annette) was born and raised in Israel. She has worked in media and entertainment, and performed as a singer/dancer/actress in various venues. She has done TV commercials both in Israel and in Tokyo. Ronit is a Temple University Alumni with a BA in Broadcasting Telecommunications and Performance, and received additional training at Circle in The Square Theater school in NYC. Among her latest credits are a feature film due in 2010 (“The Pomegranate Pendent”), several TV sketches on the Israeli music channel 24, and the children's TV show “Deus”.
Naomi Weissberg (Kate, U.S. Annie), age 11,was born into a musical family. Her mother,American-Israeli concert pianist Nadia Weintraub, was her first piano teacher. She studies voice with her grandparent singers Cantor David and Albertine Weintraub. She attends the Herzliya Music Conservatory and majors in drama and dance at school. She has performed on stage from a young age at various musical events, U.S summer camp musical Oliver Twist,at ClubMed resorts, as soloist with choir and more. She is an award winning swimmer and excellent skier.
Tom Weiss (President Roosevelt, Lt Ward), a native New Yorker in the full sense of the word, is a proud Shomer Shabbat Jew who made aliyah. He's an actor, a correspondent, an athlete, a political activist & a diplomat. His first major role was at 13, playing what critics called a brilliant Benjamin Franklin in '1776', giving up 71 years to Franklin's 84. He's thrilled to make the journey from "1776" to America's optimistic President of 1933, because he believes that weather forecast about sun tomorrow. Today Tom lives in Jerusalem and broadcasts the Ambassador's Report to the New York tri-state area & beyond, while one of the top voice-over artists in the great State of Israel.
Ayden Yager (Me Too) is older than the youngest in the cast by only one day, Ayden adds her bright light to the dreary life of being an orphan in Miss Hannigan's care! She has been performing since she was a very young girl - in her living room, that is! Outside of school and camp, this is her first Major Production.
Tomer Ze'ev (Rooster) is a 2009 Beit-Zvi graduate. During his studies he had performed in musicals as well as theater plays by classical and contemporary authors. He is also a qualified singer, performing classical and modern musical styles.
Jordan Zell (Bundles, Wacky, Henry Morgenthau, Staff) is a graduate of the Hebrew University theater studies program. He was born in Maryland and made Aliyah in 1986. At the age of 12 he appeared on Israel's educational T.V series "Candy Can Do It." Jordan’s stage performances include: “The Mikado” (Ko-Ko), "The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel)," "1776" (Richard H. Lee), “Much Ado About Nothing” (Dogberry), “Patience” (the Duke), “The Sorcerer,” “Once Upon a Mattress” (Prince Dauntless), “A Mid Summer’s Night Dream,” and “H.M.S Pinafore.”
Marc Zell (Oliver Warbucks) is a practicing international attorney and commentator on American politics and law, Marc returned to the stage several years ago and has since appeared in numerous productions in leading or major supporting roles, including: "Pirates of Penzance" (Police Sergeant); "1776" (Benjamin Franklin); "Yeomen of the Guard" (Sergeant Meryll);"The Sorcerer" (Sir Marmaduke Poindextre); "The Mikado" (Mikado); "Patience" (Col. Calverly); "H.M.S. Pinafore" (Boatswain); "Iolanthe" (Private Willis).
Amy Bart (Musical Director) loved teaching the kids and cast their songs and working with this talented group. A pianist and music educator from the New York area, Amy has served as musical director for the Barrington Stage Company's children's theater program. Her connection to Israel was forged during the Yom Kippur War, when she used her pianistic skills to comfort bereaved families and bring music in a troubled time. She thanks Israel Musicals for this opportunity to work with the cast and crew of Annie.
Shuky Hoffman (choreographer) is the founder and director of the respected Mechola Dance Centers and Mechola Dance Troupe. She has directed and choreographed productions around Israel and abroad at festivals and other special occassions. She has been honored with awards by the "Omanut La'Am" foundation and is the recipient of the prestigious "Yakirat Yerushalayim" award.
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