Temple Israel's

new theater group

is having a wonderful time

preparing their first show.

SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Photos by Glenn Triest

Cast and crew of

Simply Simon.

An outside director, music
Schram
udi
director and choreographer
inside
stepped
with considerable communi-
Temple Israel to
ty theater experience are
exchange High
preparing the cast and crew
Holiday tickets and
for four performances start-
walked out with a
ing at 8 p.m. Nov. 11, 13, 17
part in a musical
and 20. There will be an af-
revue.
terglow each evening.
Ms. Schram had thought
"We have found a lot of tal-
her evening trip to the tem-
ented people who are show-
ple would be a quick and sim-
ing those talents for the first
ple matter. Instead, after
time," said producer Larry
running into friend Susan
Miller, a dentist who has
Borin, she lingered in con-
been in many local theater
versation and then encoun-
programs including those
tered Simply Simon, an
sponsored by the Bloomfield
intricate theater piece
Players, Avon Players and
launching a new membership
the Jewish Community Cen-
activity.
ter.
Staying to watch the audi-
Dr. Miller, who got his
tions with her friend, Ms.
start in theater by appearing
Schram was coaxed to go on
in Temple Israel productions
stage when the tryouts for
while growing up in the
dancers began. She was
1950s, was asked by Rabbis
known for her performances
Harold Loss and Paul Yed-
with a community ensemble,
wab to organize the group.
Dance Alive, and for her
"Both rabbis have seen me
years of dance lessons.
perform and have seen the
"I didn't have time to get
enthusiasm and excitement
nervous," said Ms. Schram,
of a theater group so they
who had never done a staged
asked me to start one at Tem-
reading and had limited
ple Israel," said Dr. Miller, a
singing experience. Still, she
decided to test these talents
QUICK STUDIES page 86
as well, and she got the part
of Helene in an excerpt from
Sweet Charity.
"I'm having a ball, and
my family has been fending
beautifully," said the wife,
mother and speech thera-
pist, who can spend more
than three hours at re-
hearsals scheduled as of-
ten as four times a week.
Her daily routine will
return to normal Nov. 21,
when all the shows have
been performed.
Ms. Schram is among
some 30 temple members
working on the produc-
tion that combines songs
and scenes from four
Neil Simon musicals and
premieres a new group, Larry Miller, Key-Ellen Murphy and Leslie
Wood work on the music.
Temple Players.