Belfast Kind Playbill

JCHS Perfo rming Arts Center Jewish Co mmunity High Scho o l Of The Bay San Francisco , CA

J e wish Co m m unit y High Scho o l o f t he Bay J CHS Pe rf o rm ing Art s Ce nt e r PRESENTS

BELFAST KIND

a ne w play by Margo t Co nno lly

Sce nic De sign by Jennifer Sturgill*

Light ing De sign by Jo e McDo nald*

Co st um e De sign by Eliana Aiken

So und De sign by Ophir Weisberg

Dram at urg Julie McCo rmick**

Diale ct Co ach Nancy Carlin**

with Tessa Zitter Jo nes Bealum Olivia Rudd Maya Menachem

Yo nim Schweig Nathaniel Kreeger Sabrina Katz

St age Manage r Ari Denberg

Assist ant Dire ct o r Sasha Manus

Dire ct e d by Dylan Russe ll*

* deno tes a JCHS Pro fessio nal Co mmunity Member ** deno tes a Guest Artist

CAST Cast Me m be rs Zippy

Tessa Zitter ('17)

Karen

Olivia Rudd ('16 )

Bridey

Jo nes Bealum ('16 )

Aisling

Maya Menachem ('19 )

Mo ishe Fenster

Nathaniel Kreeger ('16 )

Eva Fenster

Sabrina Katz ('19 )

Adam Asher

Yo nim Schweig ('17)

Street Urchin

Avram Ro senzweig ('19 ) Pro duct io n / Cre at ive

Assistant Directo r So und Design

Sasha Manus ('17) Ophir Weisberg ('16 )

Co stume Design

Eliana Aiken ('17)

Stage Manager

Ari Denberg ('16 )

Pro jectio ns

Rebecca Wahba ('16 )

Light Bo ard

Nathan Magid ('19 )

Back Stage

Talia Shapero ('19 )

Back Stage

Avima Zuliani ('19 )

Ho use Manager Scenic Painters

Becky Grintsaig ('17) Alex Alo uf, So phia Bro die-Weisberg, Kayla Buki, Mo riah Chedekel, Avery Cruz, Avigayil Edelman, Shmuel Edelman, Mya Elkins, Emma Go ldbrener, Milana Go ldburt, Elle Grintsaig, A.J. Ingberman, Mira Kittner, Sam Klapo w, Jesse Lieberman, Mitchell Zvagelskiy.

Copyright ÂŠ 2016 Playbill Online Inc. All marks used by permission.

WHO'S WHO Tessa Zitter ('17)

as Zippy

Tessa is so excited to participate in her 8 th sho w at JCHS! Other sho ws she has appeared in include "Pippin," " Hearts Like Fists," "Hedda Gabler," "The Dro wsy Chapero ne" and "Mo o n Over Buffalo ." She enjo ys every mo ment she spends in the theater and o ften spends time there when she is no t in a sho w as well. She wo uld like to thank everyo ne who has wo rked o n this pro ductio n o f "Belfast Kind."

Olivia Rudd ('16)

as Karen

Olivia is bo th jo yful and sad to be acting in her final sho w at JCHS. She thanks her fello w acto rs and tech crew, as well as her theater parents Ms. Russell and Mr. McDo nald, fo r the hilarity and lo ve these past fo ur years. She also thanks her friends and family fo r putting up with the increase o f sarcasm and melo drama that has acco mpanied playing the witty and biting Karen.

Jones Bealum ('16)

as Bridey

Jo nes is bo th excited and verklempt to be acting in her last JCHS pro ductio n. She will always remember the lo ng days and nights spent in the theatre lo bby. As always, she wo uld like to thank her family, and the Crew.

Maya Menachem ('19)

as Aisling

Maya is very excited to be in her seco nd pro ductio n. She wo uld like to thank everyo ne who made this pro ductio n po ssible. Special thanks to Ms. Russell, Ari Denberg and Mr. McDo nald fo r all their hard wo rk. She wo uld also like to thank the incredible cast fo r always making rehearsal fun and fo r sharing many laughs. Maya ho pes that yo u will enjo y the sho w!

Nathaniel Kreeger ('16)

as Moishe Fenster

This is Nathaniel's tenth and final sho w at JCHS, marking the end o f an era fo r him. It has been an ho no r being a part o f this co mmunity, learning fro m Ms. Russell, playing parts like Bo bby Stro ng and Man in Chair. This theater is his family and he will always be mo re grateful than he co uld say.

Copyright ÂŠ 2016 Playbill Online Inc. All marks used by permission.

WHO'S WHO Sabrina Katz ('19)

as Eva Fenster

This is Sabrina's seco nd time perfo rming at JCHS. Taking a leap fro m dancing in the fall musical "Urineto wn," Sabrina has enjo yed acting and spending time with her fello w cast and tech crew members. She wo uld like to thank her parents fo r enco uraging her to try o ut fo r the drama. She wo uld also like to thank Ms. Russell fo r such a great o ppo rtunity.

Yonim Schweig ('17)

as Adam Asher

"Belfast Kind" is Yo nimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third sho w at JCHS, but his first Drama. As a practicing Jew in the Bay Area, he identifies with his ro le in "Belfast Kind" as Adam Asher, and finds the challenges o f living in two wo rlds to be very relevant. He has enjo yed expanding his acting abilities this sho w, and is very thankful to Mrs. Russell and the cast fo r helping him do so .

Sasha Manus ('17)

Assistant Director

Sasha is thrilled to have had the o ppo rtunity to wo rk o n "Belfast Kind!" This is her seventh sho w at JCHS. She wo uld like to thank Ms. Russell, Mr. McDo nald, Ms. McCo rmick, and the cast and crew fo r making such an incredible pro ductio n. Enjo y the sho w!

Ophir Weisberg ('16)

Sound Design

Ophir is excited to be the So und Designer fo r this sho w. He wo uld like to thank his friends and family fo r the suppo rt and lo ve, which go t Ophir where he is to day. He ho pes everyo ne enjo ys listening to the sho w!

Eliana Aiken ('17)

Costume Design

Eliana is thrilled to be co stume designer fo r the sho w! She was assistant co stume designer fo r JCHS's last musical "Urineto wn" and was so happy to take o ver as head co stume designer fo r "Belfast Kind." Eliana has been sewing fo r o ver five years and lo ves the theater vibe! Eliana ho pes yo u enjo y the sho w!

WHO'S WHO Ari Denberg ('16)

Stage Manager

This is Ari's fo urth sho w do ing tech at JCHS, and her first time stage managing. She is very excited to see ho w the sho w co mes to gether, and wo uld like to thank the amazing cast and crew, as well as everyo ne who has taken the time to co me see the perfo rmance.

Rebecca Wahba ('16)

Projections

This is Becca's ninth sho w at JCHS! She wo uld like to thank her grandma fo r intro ducing her to the theatre. Of co urse she wo uld also like to thank her friends fo r suppo rting her and Mr. McDo nald fo r guiding her during her years here at JCHS. Enjo y!

Nathan Magid ('19)

Light Board

Nathan is excited to be part o f the theater fo llo wing three o f his siblings who were acto rs here at JCHS. He is also defecting fro m the family traditio n o f acting in theater and he has felt incredibly po werful having the ability to co ntro l the lights.

Avram Rosenzweig ('19)

as Street Urchin

Altho ugh this is Avram's first sho w, he has seen quite a few pro ductio ns at JCHS because his o lder sister Hannah wo rked o n tech crew fo r many sho ws. Avram enjo ys fo o d, video games, Ultimate Frisbee and a bunch o f o ther geeky stuff.

Talia Shapero ('19)

Back Stage

This is Talia's first sho w at JCHS! She is very excited to be a part o f the magic that happens behind the scenes o n tech. She wo uld like to thank her parents and Mr. McDo nald fo r enco uraging her to jo in the crew. She wo uld also like her friends fo r all o f their suppo rt, and ho pes yo u enjo y the sho w!

WHO'S WHO Avima Zuliani ('19)

Back Stage

This is Avima's first play at JCHS. After lo ng ho urs and vo wing to herself to never do theater again, she is lo o king fo rward to the next play! Thanks to mo ther, my do g, and clo wns.

Becky Grintsaig ('17)

House Manager

This is the seventh JCHS pro ductio n Becky has been invo lved in. She has been o n the tech crew, o n stage and no w is excited to be yo ur Ho use Manager and Assistant Co stume Designer. She wo uld like to thank her father fo r driving her to scho o l and picking her up after all the late rehearsals. Enjo y the sho w!

Acknowledgments We wo uld like t o t hank t he f o llo wing pe o ple and o rganizat io ns who have assist e d us in o ur pro duct io n o f Belfast Kind . Michael Shapero and the JCHS kitchen pro fessio nals fo r snacks and dinners to keep us energized; David Winitsky and the Jewish Plays Pro ject fo r intro ducing us to this wo nderful play; Amanda Maso n fo r mento rship o f o ur Stage Manager; Officers Rudy Dumandan, Nate Green and Mitch Schlachterman fo r helping us o n late nights; So phia Brady fo r her help; Flying Mo o se Video fo r all they do ; Edi Manus fo r managing o ur wo nderful parent o rganizatio n, and the entire JCHS co mmunity fo r their suppo rt and co nsideratio n o f o ur pro ductio n o f Belfast Kind .

For Your Information Belfast Kind will be perfo rmed with o ne ten-minute intermissio n. Lateco mers will be seated at a suitable break o r scene change. In the event o f an emergency, exits are lo cated at the rear o f the theater. Fo r everyo ne's safety, please exit in a calm and o rderly fashio n. The use o f cameras (with o r witho ut flash), reco rders o f any type, o r o ther electro nic devices inside the theater is strictly pro hibited. Fo o d and drink - including water - are no t allo wed in the theater. This theater is equipped with an infrared listening system fo r listening enhancement. Lightweight, wireless headsets are available free o f charge fro m ho use management. A po rtio n o f Belfast Kind takes place in the aisles. Fo r the safety o f the perfo rmers, please keep them clear.

FALL 2015 PRODUCTION OF "URINETOWN"

Finale o f URINETOWN

The cast perfo rms "I See a River" fro m JCHS' pro ductio n o f URINETOWN

JCHS ADMISSIONS

NOTES FROM THE DRAMATURG

T he Belfast of Belfast Kind Growing up in Northern Ireland Belfast Kind takes place smack in the middle of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Though most agree that the Troubles lasted from 1968-1998, the conflict’s roots reach hundreds of years into the past and tensions continue today. For most of its history, the island of Ireland has been colonized and governed by its larger, more powerful neighbor Britain. This relationship grew more complex when Britain became an officially Protestant state under King Henry VIII in 1534. In the majority Catholic Ireland, this did not go over well. Henry VIII’s successor, Elizabeth I, colonized Northern Ireland with Protestants from England, Scotland, and Wales. These Protestant colonists ruled over large “plantations” of land that had been taken from Irish Catholics. They had all the land, all the resources, and all of the political clout. This huge power imbalance created the perfect storm of discrimination, unequal access to resources, and resentment that eventually sparked the Troubles. When the Republic of Ireland finally gained its independence from Britain in 1921, the six northern-most counties opted to remain part of Britain. Many of the Catholic minority bitterly resented this decision. They wished to join the Republic of Ireland and have access to better jobs, better housing, and better representation in the government; things they felt were denied to them by the British government in Northern Ireland. The main conflict of the Troubles lay between the “Republicans” who wanted to be a part of the Irish Republic, and the “Unionists” or “Loyalists,” who wished for Northern Ireland to remain under British control. A civil rights protest led by Catholic Republican organizers turned ugly on October 5, 1968 when the police attacked marchers with water cannons and batons. Over the next several months, further protests and violent counter-attacks escalated into full-scale urban guerilla warfare. Bombs became a commonplace threat in public areas; tanks, military checkpoints, and designated “no-go” areas were an attempt to contain explosive rage and reactionary violence. Paramilitary groups roamed the streets, targeting any individual from the other side and seeking bloody retribution for their fallen comrades. People disappeared. The RUC and British soldiers tasked with keeping the peace also sometimes broke it by secretly collaborating with Loyalist civilian forces. Graffiti, political murals, and peace walls carved up the city into Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods. Integrated areas had all but disappeared; everyone was forced to take a side.

NOTES FROM THE DRAMATURG Continued fom previous page.

The Troubles impacted everyone in Northern Ireland, but perhaps no one so much as the children who grew up in the middle of the conflict. Families indoctrinated children early; boys and girls as young as three would hurl stones at soldiers and tanks in imitation of their older siblings. Many young people actively participated in paramilitary groups or political organiz ations. Over 3,600 people died during the Troubles; 530 of them children. Apart from the ever- present threat of physical violence and constant stress, the children of Belfast faced other significant hurdles. There were few opportunities in this economically depressed and bomb- cratered city for young people. Many left for the safety and relative prosperity of the Republic of Ireland and England. The emotional toll of violence, loss, and fear was immeasurable. This pervasive conflict also proved to be tremendously hard on Belfast’s small but wellestablished Jewish community. The 100- year- old synagogue was in a predominantly Protestant neighborhood, where most of the Jewish community also lived. Despite a largely neutral outlook (the synagogue even hosted peace talks), three members of the Jewish community were killed as a result of the Troubles. Consequently, many fled the city for safer and more prosperous locations. The play you are about to see takes place in late 1983 – early 1984. Our young protagonists belong to an entire generation of children who grew up under the shadow of the Troubles. Curfews, bombings, assassinations, and riots were the only way of life this generation knew. Neighborhoods and schools were almost completely segregated by this time; it was entirely possible for a child to never have had any extended peaceful contact with someone from the other side. This all began to change in 1981, with the formation of Belfast’s first religiously integrated school: Lagan. The fictional characters Zippy, Adam, Bridey, Karen, and Aisling all attended this real school, which was considered to be a grand, and risky, experiment with integration. The hope was that children who sat side by side with their parents’ enemies would learn tolerance and grow into more peaceful, empathetic adults. Though today there are many integrated schools in cities across Northern Ireland, 90% of students still attend segregated institutions. The children of the Troubles eventually grew up to see the official end of the conflict in 1998 with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Major strides have been taken towards peace and equality, but the legacy of thirty years of bloodshed and bitterness can still be felt in Belfast. Resentments and old hurts linger close to the surface; many look for closure of old crimes and healing. It will be the work of many generations to bring true and lasting peace to Northern Ireland.

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