THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, April 27, 1984
45
THEATER
Son, grandson of rabbis
finds theater a challenge
movie listings
BERKLEY THEATRE
- 2990 W. 12 Mile Rd.
Berkley LI 2-0330
ALL SEATS
$1.00 AT ALL TIMES
BY HEIDI PRESS
Local News Editor
It's Chol Hamoed Pesach
and Jonathan Silverman
has a box of matzah on the
kitchenette counter of his
hotel room.
Currently playing the
lead in Neil Simon's
Brighton Beach Memoirs
at the Fisher Theater, 17-
year-old Jonathan says he is
"trying my best" to keep
Pesach on the road. When
traveling with the produc-
tion company he even
makes an effort to go to
synagogue services.
While in Detroit, he was a
guest at the Seder of Rabbi
David A. Nelson of Cong.
Beth Shalom, an associate
Jonathan Silverman
of Jonathan's father, Rabbi
Hillel Silverman. Rabbi
Nelson also treated
Jonathan to a tour of metro
Detroit's synagogues.
In addition to being the
son of a rabbi, Jonathan is
the grandson of the late
Rabbi Morris Silverman,
who compiled the "Silver-
man prayerbook" used in
Conservative synagogues
and the "Silverman Hag-
gadah."
The soft-spoken teenager
is a charmer, and if you let
him, he can melt your heart
dead away. The youngest of
three children, Jonathan is
happy to talk about his fam-
ily, his father, mother and
two older sisters. His
mother, he proudly ex-
plains, is a seventh-
generation Sabra who has a
family tree that goes back to
King David. Sisters Gila
and Sharon are both mar-
ried to men whose names
are Mark Steven. He smiles
at the coincidence. His eyes
light up when speaking of
Story, Fiddler on the Roof,
Alice in Wonderland and in
The Diary of Anne .Frank.
He also appeared in
California drama festivals.
It is coincidental that he
got the lead role in
Brighton Beach Memoirs.
He explained that on a trip
to New York, he and his
father went to see the play
just for entertainment's
sake. Matthew Broderick
then had the lead role.
This summer, though, he
"I adored the show and
may have to forego his favo-
the character. I just used the
rite sport because of the de-
play as entertainment. I
mands of his role in the
didn't study him
Simon play. After the prod-
(Broderick)."
uction leaves Detroit, it
While he was appearing
in a high school production,
an agent saw him and
"signed him up." He was
asked to read for playwright
Simon and after six days of
rehearsals made his
Broadway debut. Broderick
and his replacement had
both been tapped for movie
roles, leaving the role of
Eugene empty and avail-
able for Jonathan.
He speaks with what one
would describe as New York
accent. How does a kid from
California have a New York,
accent? Jonathan explains:
"I went to Brighton Beach
(N.Y.) where I tried to get
the flavor and aroma of
what's going on there."
And how does his family
feel about his acting career?
According to Jonathan,
"very proud." Since he is a
minor, his mother often
travels with him. When the
company appeared in Dal-
las, his whole family came
to see him. His father prev-
iously held a pulpit there.
A somber, moment tread
upon the enthusiasm with
goes westward to Denver which he spoke. "I really
and throughout California. miss them all a lot. I have
He'll be on the road until
all of their pictures on the
October.
mirror in my dressing
What about school? He room."
attends the Professional
But he is in good com-
Children's School of Man- pany, since he says the cast
hattan, which provides members are close. "The
correspondence courses for cast became like a real fam-
youth involved in theater ily to me." On the second
and movies who cannot night of Passover, he led the
attend regular classes. He is cast in a Seder at their
tutored in the mornings and hotel.
has the afternoons to do
Did he ever consider fol-
homework. He will lowing in his father's and
graduate in June.
grandfather's footsteps?
Following his stint in When he was growing up he
Brighton Beach Jonathan
said he would like to go to
Tourney set
college. "I'd like to take
The Oak Park Central
some theater courses," he
says, "but I don't know if Kiwanis Club will hold its
theater is what I want to third annual Monopoly
tournament 7:30 p.m. today
do."
Would he like to get into at the Somerset Inn in Troy.
Proceeds from the compe-
the movies? "Sure! I
tition will go to cystic fib-
wouldn't turn it down."
Jonathan's acting career rosis.
For information on the
started at the Beverly Hills
(Calif.) High School, where tournament, contact Gerald
he performed in the school's Naftaly, 643-9200 during
productions of West Side business hours.
nephew
11-month-old
Matthew.
"I love kids. I definitely
want to have kids," he says.
But that's a long way off,
since in his own way,
Jonathan is still a bit of a
kid himself. Baseball is his
game, and back home in Los
Angeles, he plays shortstop
and pitcher on an all-star
team. "It's something I
really like."
thought about being a
rabbi. "I wanted to become
actively religious, but not to
lead services."
Does he find the traveling
and the demands difficult?
Not at all.
"It's tough and a chal-
lenge. I love challenges and
love what I'm doing. This is
a blast."
Upon leaving, the visitor
catches a glimpse of the box
of matzah while being
wished a "Chag Sameach."
You can't help but smile
knowing that here is truly a
Nice Jewish Boy who has
made good.
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