A Play At The J 2023

PLAYBILL

THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER BENEFITING MANDEL JCC

Thursday, August 31, 2023

7:30 pm

Welcome

Welcome to A Play at The J, an evening celebrating the Mandel JCC and 25 years of Playmakers Youth Theatre.

We are delighted you are with us tonight for this family-friendly evening. Mandel JCC has offered youth theatre programming for decades. Under the leadership of Playmakers founder Sheri Gross, Playmakers Youth Theatre has been a lifeline for so many young people. It has always been a safe place where personal connections thrive, creativity is celebrated and everyone is accepted. Playmakers truly has become a home and special family year after year for those who participate in the program, as you will witness tonight. There’s nothing like returning to the stage to perform with lifelong friends that you made 10, 15 even 25 years ago.

Playmakers Youth Theatre has ignited a love of theatre in kids of all ages and prepared many of them for careers in the performing arts industry. Beyond skills, Playmakers builds confidence and teaches kids the ability to meet new people.

Developing a strong skillset of teamwork, adaptability, creativity, individuality, ingenuity and confidence is what truly defines Playmakers Youth Theatre. Playmakers has the ability to transform young people’s lives, giving them the power to do what they didn’t think possible.

Tonight we are so proud of all the returning and current Playmakers students who are here with us to entertain all of you with their incredible talents that they have been sharing with our community for 25 years.

A portion of this evening’s proceeds will support the purchase of a new sound system for Stonehill Auditorium that will benefit Playmakers Youth Theatre and other community events. This Mandel JCC annual event helps close the financial gaps between membership and program fees and what is needed to support The J’s operating expenses.

As always, your support and enthusiasm for our outstanding programs and services are valued and appreciated. Thank you for being an important part of The J family and for being with us this evening. Looking forward to celebrating another 25 years and MORE with all of you. Enjoy the show!

With gratitude,

Neil Tramer Board Chair Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose President & CEO

Traci E. Felder Chief Philanthropy & Donor Engagement Officer

Letter from Emma

Dear A Play At The J Audience,

For 25 years, Playmakers Youth Theatre has welcomed performers of all levels, creating theater magic while honoring the unique individuality in each cast member. Generations of children and teens have found a home-awayfrom-home on the Playmakers stage, where they’ve grown both as performers and people. Creativity, confidence building and community are the heartbeat of Playmakers, a place where every child and teen truly has the opportunity to shine.

I would know. I’m one of those kids! For so many of us who grew up on and behind stage, this is an incredibly meaningful and poignant celebration. I can’t begin to find the words to articulate my gratitude to and for the community that raised me, nor can I adequately express what a privilege it is to direct Playmakers Youth Theatre and The Francine and Benson Pilloff Family Performing Arts Camp.

It is so special to be able to take a look back at where we’ve been and to look towards the future. We are enormously thankful to tonight’s performers – many of whom traveled to come “home” to the Playmakers stage – and I am so lucky to be joined tonight by the two previous Playmakers directors, Sheri and Rachel, who have dedicated their time and love to this program and to so many children.

Tonight, we’re taking a stroll down memory lane. I hope you’ll enjoy revisiting Anatevka, Rydell High and Skid Row. As tonight’s amazing performers journey back in time, we hope to present some fan-favorite classics and reflect on the Playmakers experience.

At Playmakers, as casts learn music, rehearse blocking and memorize choreography, they are also hard at work growing, building lifelong friendships, taking risks, finding and using their voices, learning to believe in themselves and discovering the power of teamwork. We can’t think of anything more worthy of a celebration of 25 years of creating magic in the lives of children and teens.

Thank you so much for supporting the impactful and important work of the Mandel JCC and for helping to ensure that the future of Playmakers is bright and enduring!

Enjoy the show,

Emma Miller Playmakers Youth Theatre Director

Cast of Characters

Narrators

Kyle Cohen

Alexis Gross

Eliza Kammer

Shelby Kammer

Zach Izeman

Erin Moran

Accompanist

Eric Golovan

Lucien Apffel

Emily Baraldi

Suzanne Berman

Eliana Bortz

Eliana Cole Brown

Jordan Matthew Brown

Sophie Brown

Sophie Browner

Hazel Bruch

Lily Bruch

Astrid Burkle

Harper Caruso

Korinne Courtwright

Daphne Dachner

Liesel Dachner

Indira Dobbs

Ezra Dorfman

Dash Dye

Selah Eisenberg

Blaise Eitman

Emily Evans

Darrien Fann

Claire Feldkamp

Molly Glickman

Shira Glickman

Eric Golovan

Vivian Goldstein

Jeannie Greminger

Sheri Gross

Avraham Haas

Violet Handel

Atara Hochheiser

Isaac Hoenig

Eleanor Horn

Michael Hyman

Rina Hyman

Brian Innenberg

Coretta Klein

Lulu Kreeger

Hannah Landes

Cooper Lefko

Zorrie Lefko

Noomi Levine

Hannah Light

Hannah Lindberg

Emma Litwak

Sarah Litwak

Sophie Madorsky

Jesse Markowitz

Emma Mendlovic

Ellie Miller

Emma Miller

Naomi Miller

Production Team

Lee Millstone

Irene Miyoshi

Stella Nardo

Eva Perlmuter

Dylan Rocker

Moriyah Roland

Nili Roland

Carnie Rose

Esther Rothbaum

Rosie Saltzman

Federica Salvagni

Louis Schwartz

Serena Schwartzben

Atara Sher

Orly Shoag

Kendall Silverstein

Hannah Singer

Caroline Siwick

Ava Solomon

Ethan Spence

Isabella Sweet

Lila Sukert

Desiree Sullivan

Orli Teller

Neshama Teller

Helen Gordon Toth

Ella Wexberg

Sara Yurman

Rachel Zake Ozan

Alexa Zitelli

As of Aug. 28, 2023

Thank you to the following committee members for their hard work and efforts to make A Play At The J a success.

Becky Rocker – Chair

Sherri Foxman – Party411

Debbie Arnold

Glenda Bogar

Jill Cappy

Traci Felder

Rachel Glickman

Sheri Gross

Jamie Light

Melanie Luria

Emma Miller

Jack Ovalles

Nancy Soclof

Anniversary Revue

Welcome ......................................................... Carnie Rose, President & CEO

Opening Remarks .......................................... Becky Rocker, Chair of A Play At The J

Showtime ....................................................... 25 Years of Playmakers Cast

If I Were a Rich Man ................................................ Jordan Matthew Brown

Far From the Home I Love ................................... Sophie Madorsky

Remarks...................................................................... Sheri Gross

Beauty and the Beast Korinne Courtwright

Remarks...................................................................... Emily Baraldi and Sara Yurman

Leavin’s Not the Only Way to Go .......................

Jordan Matthew Brown & Sheri Gross

Pearl’s A Singer ........................................................ Jeannie Greminger

Remarks...................................................................... Rachel Zake Ozan

At the Ballet .............................................................. Korrine Courtwright, Jeannie Greminger ....................................................................................... & Sheri Gross

Summer Nights Emily Baraldi & Brian Innenberg

If I Were A Bell .......................................................... Sophie Madorsky

Remarks...................................................................... Emma Litwak

Notice Me, Horton .................................................. Harper Caruso

Hello, Dolly ................................................................ Darrien Fann

Stormy Weather....................................................... Darrien Fann & Sheri Gross

BFF ............................................................................... Eric Golovan & Louis Schwartz

Zach & Kyle’s Fifteen Seconds of Lame ........... Kyle Cohen & Zach Izeman

Hebrew Medley .......................................................

Sheri Gross & Michael Hyman

Something Good ....................................................

Jordan Matthew Brown & ....................................................................................... Sophie Madorsky

So Long, Farewell Multigenerational Von Trapp Kids

....................................................................................... Ensemble

Edelweiss ...................................................................

Jordan Matthew Brown & .......................................................................................

Surprise Guests

There’s No Business Like Show Business ........ Rabbi Carnie Rose & Surprise Guests

Grow for Me ..............................................................

Suddenly, Seymour

Harper Caruso

Jordan Matthew Brown & Sheri Gross

Any Dream Will Do Multigenerational Joseph Ensemble

Better Together........................................................ Company

Lechi Lach .................................................................. Company

Hey, Playmakers ...................................................... Company

Surprise Performances..........................................

Jordan Matthew Brown & ....................................................................................... Sophie Madorsky

Closing Remarks ............................................ Emma Miller

I Sing the Body Electric ......................................... Company

Directors through the Years

Emma Miller

Emma grew up at the Mandel JCC’s Playmakers Youth Theatre and The Francine and Benson Pilloff Family Performing Arts Camp, where she was a participant, camper, counselor, supervisor and assistant director. Emma returned as the Performing Arts Camp (PAC) director in 2019, and has been the Playmakers director & Safran Park and PAC director since 2021.

In addition to her work at the Mandel JCC, Emma is co-founding artistic director of The Hearth, a NY-based theatre company where she directs and produces offBroadway productions, including Athena, a recent New York Times Critics’ Pick. Emma is also the theatre arts director at B’nai Jeshurun NYC, teen leadership director and educator at HaZamir.

Rachel Zake Ozan

Rachel served as the Mandel JCC’s Playmakers Youth Theatre director and The Francine and Benson Pilloff Family Performing Arts Camp (PAC) director for four seasons. Having been a camper at the Mayfield JCC PAC Camp in the early 90s and one of Sheri Gross’ first campers, becoming director of the program was coming home again. During her time as director, Rachel directed and oversaw more than 65 casts of kids between the school season and camp shows. Rachel was honored to write camp shows and was able to see the program in a new light.

Rachel has been acting for more than 30 years and is currently writing a commissioned piece for Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland about the unparalleled Ruth Bader Ginsburg (on stage May 2024). She has published four books and is a member of SAG-AFTRA and The Dramatists Guild of America and Dobama Theatre’s Playwrights’ GYM. Rachel is the vice president of the board for Dobama Theatre. She resides in Pepper Pike with her husband, son and stepdaughter.

Sheri Gross

Formerly the director of the Mandel JCC Playmakers Youth Theatre and The Francine and Benson Pilloff Family Performing Arts Camp (PAC) for more than 20 years, Sheri is currently the director of arts, culture and creative programming at Gross Schechter Day School. She is the director of Testimony Theater (in which teens dramatize Holocaust survivors’ stories), the theater critic for the Cleveland Jewish News and is a writer and performer with The Musical Theater Project. Sheri is in the process of completing a certification in Jewish educational leadership.

Sheri Gross has appeared off-Broadway as well as in regional productions and solo cabaret acts. Sheri and her husband David have three wonderful children: Alexis (23), Aidan (21) and Ava (15).

just one person believes in you...”

STEVE MILLER + SUZANNE FISHER

AIDAN MILLER

HELGA

MILLER

“If

The J is more than a gym, preschool, camp or arts and culture center. It is a place where memories are created, new experiences are shared and connections are made. From our youngest program participants to our senior members, The J provides opportunities to find what is meaningful to you.

THANK YOU SPONSORS

Encore Sponsors

LARRY MACK

Finale Sponsors

Sara & Daniel Solomon

Curtain Call Sponsors

American Foam Products, Inc.

Anonymous Donor

Brennan Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Mindy & Martin Davidson

Amy + Howard Groedel

Hyman-Teller Family

Immerman Family

Shelly & Scott Lewis

In partnership with

Gayle & Jeff Marks

Suzanne Fisher & Steve Miller

Kelly and Aaron Millstone

Alexandra & Ari Ruben

Aliki & Peter Rzepka

Karin F. Schleifer

Jessica & Alan Semel

Cheri & Neal Shapero

Special Premier Ticket Holders

Amy & Ira Kaplan

Sandra & Steven Laserson

Jamie, Ben & Hannah Light

Becky & David Rocker

Mikki & Michael Rocker

Paulie & Carnie Rose

Lisa & Bill Schonberg

Nancy & Andy Soclof

Beth Weiner