The Winnipeg Jewish Theatre is having a panel discussion at 6 PM on the topic, “What is Jewish Theatre?”  on February 6 PM at the Berney Theatre

Michael Nathanson be moderating  what promises to be a very engaging discussion, with Steven Schipper, Mariam Bernstein, Kayla Gordon and Harry Nelken on the panel.  It is a Pay-What-You-Can event.

Bios of the Paneslists;

Mariam Bernstein 

Mariam has been acting and directing professionally for 25 years. For WJT she has directed The Father, Betrayal, Death of a Salesman, Lebensraum, Speed-the-Plow, Broken Glass, Via Dolorosa, Sight Unseen, Golda’s Balcony, and The Always Prayer Shawl. She has also directed for MTC, PTE,  and Dry Cold Productions, and has performed in theatres from Victoria to Halifax. A graduate of the National theatre School of Canada, Mariam was Artistic Director of WJT from 2005-2007, and currently serves as its Artistic Advisor. In March, she will be performing in WJT's production of Angels in America.

Steven Schipper

From Kindergarten to grade 4, Steven attended Adath Israel Elementary School in Outremont.  On more than one occasion his walks to and from school were interrupted by Jew-taunting fellow Montrealers.  From grade 5 – 7, he attended Talmud Torah School in Snowden, and then graduated from Herzliah High School where he set a record for non-attendance, having spent two and a half of his four years there elsewhere.  He then went on to study at that other Jewish school in Montreal, McGill University, before abandoning his people for Bishop’s University, and the National Theatre School of Canada.  That’s where he met Terri Cherniack, now his wife, and the rest, as they say, is commentary.

Harry Nelken

Mr. Nelken has had a long-standing relationship with WJT, and feels honoured to be working with WJT on his dear friend's play.  He, Bruce, and Brian Richardson collaborated this past summer on Bruce's Fringe hit, " All or Nothing ".  Amongst his WJT credits are, "Lenin's Embalmers', "Einstein's Gift", "The Diary of Anne Frank", and "The Chosen".  Recent credits: "Romeo and Juliet" (Royal MTC),  Bruce McManus’s adaptation of “Three Sisters " (Zone 41 Theatre), "Zadie's Shoes " (Factory Theatre), " Play Strindberg " (Strindberg Fest), and Daniel Thau-Eleff's, "King's Park”.  Much of Mr. Nelken's time is spent on workshopping and/or performing in new works by Manitoba playwrights.

Kayla Gordon

Kayla has directed, acted and taught in all aspects of theatre over the past 30 years and she is currently the Artistic Director for Winnipeg Studio Theatre. Born in Winnipeg, and trained at the University of Winnipeg and Banff Centre, she has performed and directed in theatres in Winnipeg as well as other Canadian and US theatres. Kayla spent 11 years working as the Artistic Director for Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and 5 years as the Executive Director of the Association for Jewish Theatre - an International Jewish Theatre organization. Among the many plays she directed an produced at WJT she is most proud of the 10 new Canadian Jewish themed plays she helped to develop.  Her most recent directing includes  Spring Awakening ,  The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Altar Boyz which is coming up at Prairie Theatre Exchange as well as My Mother's Jewish Lesbian Wiccan Wedding which she will be directing and producing in May at the Warehouse Theatre.  She also teaches Musical Theatre and Acting at the University of Winnipeg Theatre and Film Department. Kayla received the Young Leadership Award from the University of Jerusalem and she was nominated for the John Hirsch Young Directors Award.

Michael Nathanson

Artistic Producer

WJT

C148-123 Doncaster Street

Winnipeg, MB  R3N 2B2

(P) 204.477.7517

(F) 204.477.7516

www.wjt.ca