The Gray Academy of Jewish Education presents the musical THIRTEEN Tuesday, November 30 to Thursday, December 2, 2010 at the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre, 340 Provencher Blvd., at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $13.00 and can be purchased by calling the school office at 477-7410.

13 is a musical-comedy with lyrics and music by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish. The story concerns the life of 13-year-old Evan Goldman as he moves from New York City to the small town of Carmen, Manitoba, and the problems and choices he faces when the move coincides with the celebration of his Bar Mitzvah.

The story begins with Evan (Elliot Lazar) being transplanted to Manitoba from New York City when his parents divorce. With his Bar Mitzvah just around the corner, Evan wants to get the "cool kids" to attend his Bar Mitzvah so that he will become one of them. But, this means excluding his best friend and fellow nerd Patrice (Erin Minuk), who has been there for him through thick and thin and his friend Archie (Kas Kuropatwa) who is an automatic outcast due to his crutches.

The '"cool kids" include the multi-talented cheerleader Kendra (Rachel Rubin), her best friend, gossipy Lucy (Sari Waldman), and scheming star athlete Brett (Rafi Hoult). True to life, the cool kids will provisionally accept Evan and attend his Bar Mitzvah, as long as he does what they say. And what they say is to stop hanging out with Patrice.

He sets about doing whatever it takes to get himself in with the “in crowd”. Part of the test means getting them all into an R-rated horror flick, which Evan manages to pull off. Meanwhile, Archie blackmails Evan into setting him up with his secret crush, Kendra, but Kendra really wants to be with her secret crush, Brett. Brett’s big concern is how and when he will be able to kiss Kendra.

In his eagerness to be accepted, Evan finds himself disastrously negotiating his classmates’ romances for them.

Evan must grapple with growing up and becoming a man. Simultaneously, he must balance his desire to "fit in" with being true to himself and to his real friends. Evan must decide what is really important. He makes mistakes along the way, apologizes and ends up resolving to do the right thing no matter what the consequences are.

Elliot Lazar, Rachel Rubin, Rafi Hoult, Sari Waldman, Kas Kuropatwa, and Erin Minuk are superb in their lead roles. The musical is a coming of age story, a time when popularity and happiness are synonymous.  With a remarkably professional and talented cast, the show promises to be a lot of fun for kids both young and old.

The show is produced by Judy Doctoroff and Harriet Cipilinski. Director and musical director is Miriam Bronstein. Choreographer is Leah Braemer. Band director is Ariel Posen. All these names are reminiscent of numerous professional highly successful shows. This show promises to be another to add to that list.

They are hoping for three sold out full houses – November 30, December 1 and 2. Don’t miss out. Call the office at 477-7410 and buy your tickets now.

Here's what you have to look forward to:

Characters
• Evan – Elliot Lazar
• Patrice – Erin Minuk
• Archie – Kas Kuropatwa
• Lucy – Sari Waldman
• Brett – Rafi Hoult
• Kendra –  Rachel Rubin
• Eddie – Max Brodovsy-Yager
• Malcolm – Juan Mohadeb    
• Cassie – Cassie Ackerman
• Charlotte –  Jenna Adelman
• Molly – Morgan Shalom
• Richie – Oren Binnun
• Simon – Benji Leibl
• Rabbi – William Pitch
• Brett’s friends – Braden Ganetsky, Gabriel Lazar
• Kendra’s Friends – Anna Binder, Brooke Lieberman, Arielle Block, Nicole Meged, Or Shalom, Sophie Hershfield, Danielle Savlov, Sari Glow, Michal Shaposhnikov

Musical numbers
•  “13”/“Becoming a Man” – Evan and Company
• “The Lamest Place in the World” – Patrice
• “Hey Kendra” – Brett, Malcolm, Eddie, Richie, Lucy and Kendra
• “Get Me What I Need” – Archie and Company
• “Opportunity” – Lucy and Girls
• “What It Means to Be a Friend” – Patrice
• “All Hail the Brain”/“Terminal Illness” – Evan, Archie and Company
• “Getting Ready” – Archie and Company
• “Any Minute” – Brett and Kendra
• “Good Enough” – Patrice
• “Being a Geek” – Evan and Company
• “Bad Bad News” – Eddie, Malcolm, Simon and Richie
• “Tell Her” – Evan and Patrice
• “It Can’t Be True” – Lucy, Molly, Cassie, Charlotte and Company
• “If That’s What It Is” – Archie, Patrice and Evan
• “A Little More Homework” – Evan
• “Brand New You” – Cassie, Charlotte, Molly and Company