A reminder of that decade — and
every decade between 1850 and 2000
— is in the works as the temple pre-
pares to celebrate its 150th anniversary
with a.multimedia revue, "Temple
Beth El: A Musical Retrospective."
Besides showing videos and slides
to capture the congregation's history
in the context of the Motor City, 150
Beth El members, dressed in period
costumes, will perform the music that
goes along with each block of years.
Merely sitting in the audience May
13 and 14 at the Bonstelle Theatre
should accent the nostalgic ambience.
Between 1903 and 1922, the building
housed the . temple.
"Putting the show together felt like
putting a jigsaw puzzle together," says
Marsha Rofel, production coordinator
of the revue. "This was Cantor
Stephen Dubov's vision, and I worked
closely with the archivist at the:Temple
to write it. Often, Jewish musicacCon-
nections were made by finding songs
by Jewish composers.
"We held open auditions and had
so much talent that we didn't have
to turn anybody away," adds Rofel.
"On average, each cast member is in
five or six numbers within our med-
ley format."
Although many enduring musical
selections are used throughout the
revue, only one song has a change of
lyrics. It serves as the introduction.
"Comedy Tonight," which is from the
musical A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Forum, becomes "Our
History Tonight."
Rofel and her daughter Leslie, both
professional singers, went through
many books to choose the songs that
will be performed. The range of musi-
cal styles goes from early United States
folk songs to rock. Musicians include
pianist Christopher Keen, bassist
David Hull and drummer Jeff Berger.
"This show will be sentimental
because we'll be performing in the
same room that our ancestors prayed
in," says Dubov, also appearing in the
celebration revue. "It offers the entire
Jewish community an opportunity to
experience Beth El's history through
modern technology and music."
Temple Beth El's roots go back to
founding immigrants Isaac and
Sarah Cozens, who opened their
home on Rivard Street for a service
with 12 others in attendance. Today,
Temple Beth El is home to nearly
1,500 families.
"It's only fitting that Beth El began
in someone's living room," says Rabbi
- Daniel Syme. "Today, we strive to
make Beth El shine as a home that
welcomes all of Detroit's Jewish com-
munity. That includes opening our
doors at no charge to all who wish to
attend High Holy Day services."
Christine Dubov, who met her
cantor husband while they were part
of a touring professional musical
troupe, is choreographing the show
and will be in a dance routine with
him. They'll take the roles of Ginger
Rogers and Fred Astaire as they
dance to Irving Berlin's "Cheek to
Cheek."
"I feel very good
about the [perform-
ers] who will be
dancing," says
Christine Dubov,
who earned her
master's degree in
dance therapy at
New York
University and will
be teaching steps to
people without
extensive dance
experience. "It's
been fun working
with all the cast
members. Anybody who can breathe
can dance."
Among the performers will be 12
complete families. Gail and Ken
Posner and their sons, Alan and
Jeremy, will be on stage, although usu-
ally in different numbers. They will be
joined by young relatives Erica Posner
Wedes and Justin Posner Wedes.
"My husband is a great singer and
will perform "It Ain't Necessarily So"
from Porgy and Bess," Gail Posner says.
"I'm going to do a tap dance. My
teenager is in some teen numbers, and
my youngest son is with kids his age.
The whole family is in the square dance.
"I like this revue because it's an
activity that we can have as a family
and also another way to get involved
in temple. We take great pride in
watching each other do routines.
We've met some new people and got
to know others better."
Robert Blau is a behind-the-
scenes revue participant. A photog-
raphy hobbyist, he's taking archival
material and copying it onto slides.
"The slides include interiors of
the different temple buildings,
groundbreaking scenes and clergy,"
says Blau, who worked with 300
photos. "I go back two synagogues,
and it was interesting to see all the
early activity."
Rofel, who has scheduled many
rehearsals, is enthusiastic about the
show, and her excitement grows as
the celebration gets closer.
"What makes this performance so
special is that we are able to show-
case not only the best of Beth El but
also the best of Detroit and its
Jewish community," she says.
❑
4_
Performances of "Temple Beth
El: A Musical Retrospective"
begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday,
May 13, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday,
May 14, at the Bonstelle
Theatre, Woodward at Elliott,
Detroit. $18-$50 plus $6 for
bus ride from-.Beth El to the
Bonstelle. For information and
tickets, call (248) 865-0616,
Ext. 2.
Top to bottom, this page:
Choreographer Christine Dubov will
take the role of Ginger Rogers to her
husband's Fred Astaire as they dance
to Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek."
Pianist Christopher Keen rehearses
with, left to right, Wendy Davidow,
Marcia Rofeh Sandy . jacobowitz,
Gail Posner, Sara Tatchio and Clara
Eichner.
Laura Williams, Rachel Kessler and
Lesley Jacobowitz practice their num-
ber.
5/5
2000
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