Israeli’s updated choreography highlight of Fiddler tour
Nine movies in June for JCC Film Fest
Menemsha Films
Arts&Culture Arts &Culture The company of the North American tour of Fiddler on the Roof
Joan Marcus
me and kept on saying, ‘Oh my God, When Hofesh Shechter agreed to uphe’s just like Jerome.’ And I thought, date Jerome Robbins’ iconic Fiddler on the Roof choreography for Bartlett Sher’s that’s a good sign.” Shechter’s creative style might even 2016 Broadway revival, the Israeli nabe similar to that of Robbins, known for tive knew his friends and colleagues his trial-and-error approach. were nervous for him. “I tell people always, you know, it’s “I have to say, I normally suffer when one, maybe two percent talent, and I make work, but with this one, I had a then you just have to try over and over great time,” Shechter told The Observer again. And I also tell people my only from his home in London, where he is real talent is that I’m persistent and I artistic director of the Hofesh Shechter just don’t let go. I just persist and perCompany of international dancers. Audiences here will see his Tonysist and persist until I find something I nominated work when the North feel works. American tour of Bartlett Sher’s produc“It’s very much the same for me as well, when I create work for my own tion of Fiddler comes to the Schuster company, and my dancers know that Center, June 21-26. we will create so much material and “I was very happy to be involved in then maybe five percent of what we do that project. I was excited to be asked,” he says. “I wasn’t too worried about the ends up on stage. We are making tons original choreography. I first connected of material and I only keep what I feel is really like the jewel, the to the music and the story Hugo Glendinning very pure stuff. For me, from my own angle.” that’s the way. That’s how He says he knew from his it works. I just accept it and discussions with director Sher work hard.” — who had previously diShechter adds that Sher rected revivals of South Pacific trusted him and gave him (New York) and The King and the freedom to do what he I (London) — that this Fiddler wanted. revival would incorporate “There was something some elements of Robbins’ very organic about the original choreography, but whole process,” Shechter that he could rely on his own says. “Working with Bart experiences to expand upon it. was such a pleasure. It’s “I grew up in Israel. I was really a beautiful and lifedoing a lot of folk dancing,” Hofesh Shechter affirming production.” Shechter says. “That was the He says he was able to negotiate adfirst connection I have. Then it felt like a very natural connection to the musical, ditional time to the length of the show the music, the story.” for his dance creations, working with But first he had to convince the the music director and Sher. Jerome Robbins estate to give him A happy coincidence was when permission to adjust Robbins’ original Shechter learned that Israeli actor and Fiddler choreography. dancer Yehezkiel Lazarov would play “I had to go and meet with them and the lead role of Tevye in this North we met for breakfast in New York in the American tour of Sher’s revival. offices of the producers,” he says. “When I was in Israel, when I was “I landed from a flight from Mel18, I joined the junior company of the Batsheva Dance Company,” Shechbourne the night before, so I was as jetlagged as you get. And we just had that ter says. “And Yehezkiel, the Tevye, meeting and had a conversation. And was with me, there together. We were one elderly gentleman kept looking at dancing in that company for two years together and moved into the main Dayton Live presents the North Americompany, Batsheva Dance Company, can tour of Fiddler on the Roof, June together. And so I actually know him 21-26 at the Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd very well. I didn’t know that he speaks St., Dayton. Tickets are $26 to $109 and English and had become an actor.” are available at daytonlive.org. — Marshall Weiss
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The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 2021 Film Critics Jury Prize winner Neighbors is on the 2022 Dayton JCC Film Fest schedule
The JCC’s 22nd Film Fest returns to its pre-Covid format of screening films in person, with the post-Covid addition of making each film available for viewing at home. Festival organizers have also returned to presenting the series over the course of a month, nine films from June 2 to 26. San Francisco-based movie reviewer Michael Fox, who has written about Jewish and Israeli films in The Observer for two decades (including in this issue), says he’s impressed with this year’s lineup. “I’ve seen four of the nine films — Plan A, Neighbors, Wet Dog, and 200 Meters — and they are all solid dramas,” he says. Three other films on the schedule for Dayton — One More Story, Berenshtein, and Cinema Sabaya — were featured selections of the 35th Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles in May. The JCC Film Fest, in person and online, June 2-26. Opening night tickets $18, rest of series $12 each. $75 for in-person or online film pass. Go to jewishdayton.org.
Dayton’s JCC Film Fest opens at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 2 at the Dayton Art Institute with the 2021 Israeli documentary That Orchestra with the Broken Instruments, a pre-movie program with Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Artistic Director Neal Gittleman, and a dessert reception following the screening. The cost, $18, includes dessert. All other films are $12 in person or online. Guest speakers for other films will be Elliot Ratzman, chair in Jewish studies at Earlham College, following Neighbors, 7 p.m., Thursday, June 9 at The Neon; novelist Martha Moody Jacobs before Cinema Sabaya, 9:30 a.m., Thursday, June 16 in partnership with Dayton Hadassah at The Neon; and Holocaust Education Committee Chair Renate Frydman after I Am Here, 7 p.m., Thursday, June 23 at The Neon. The Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs will screen Berenshtein at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, the evening before it’s shown at The Neon. Festival passes for in-person or online films are available for $75. — Marshall Weiss Go2Films
Producer/director Yuval Hameiri’s Israeli documentary That Orchestra with the Broken Instruments opens this year’s JCC Film Fest
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • JUNE 2022
