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can help win funds
for JFS'
In rehearsal for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tom
Pavlovich (Joseph) of Livonia surrounded by young cast members
Sky's The Limit
Theater company celebrates 10 years;
opens Joseph at the Berman Center.
T
here are no limits to the experi-
ences that more than 4,000 young
people have derived from their
participation since 2002 in Sky's the Limit
Productions (STL).
Founded by Lisa Muscio of Farmington
Hills, the children's theater company was
created to offer an opportunity for those
ages 8-18 to learn about theater and all
aspects of performing skills and to build
self-esteem, confidence and team-building
skills in a fun and supportive way.
STL is entering itslOth season, with
Muscio as its creative director.
Originally, STL performances were
designed for children in elementary,
middle school and high school only.
Then seven years ago, Muscio added a
few adults to the performance of The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
On stage alongside his young sons, Gary
Weinstein recreated Ray Bolger's role of
the Scarecrow. The show was a huge suc-
cess, and Muscio saw how much it meant
to the Weinstein family for Gary to have
the opportunity to follow the yellow brick
road alongside his own munchkins.
Then came the tragic automobile
accident in Farmington Hills when the
Weinstein sons and their mother, Judith,
were killed. Gary received a huge out-
Portraits
Of Courage
Local Ravensbruck
survivors sought.
40 January 5
4
2012
T
pouring of support from Sky's the Limit
families. Later he spoke poignantly of
how important his memories of their Oz
endeavor had been to him.
In memory of Alex, Sam and Judith
Weinstein, Muscio founded the Weinstein
Theater Enrichment Fund, a nonprofit
group offering scholarships to all age
students to pursue their dreams in acting,
music or fine arts.
When the Berman Center for the
Performing Arts opened last year at
the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield, Muscio saw an "amazing
opportunity" to offer her troupe the
chance to perform in a professionally
equipped theater.
STL will present, in conjunction with
the JCC, winter and late spring produc-
tions there. Opening on Jan. 12, Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will
feature a cast of 83, including adults and
children as young as first-graders.
Tickets are available for performances
Jan. 12 and 19 at 7 p.m., Jan. 14 and 21 at
8 p.m., and Jan. 15 and 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets
may be purchased online at theberman.
org or by calling (248) 661-1900.
For more information, go online to
skysthelimitproductions.org or call (877)
785-7763.
he Holocaust Memorial Center
Zekelman Family Campus in
Farmington Hills is seeking infor-
mation about local Holocaust survivors
whose experience included interment at
Ravensbruck — to be included in the local
showing of an exhibit March 11 through
June 24.
Ideally, a photograph of the survivor (as a
young person or now) and a brief description
of her experience can be provided by the sur-
vivor or her family for inclusion in "Women
of Ravensbruck: Portraits of Courage." Each
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ewish Family Service's
Township store recently teamed up to
Project Build! program, based complete an extensive home repair:
in West Bloomfield, has been
replace rotted flooring, paint all the
selected as a finalist for Aprons in
walls, replace the lighting and oven,
Action, the Home Depot Foundation's
and repair the gutters outside. The
unique Facebook voting program,
team turned the house into a home.
and now has the opportunity to win a
Marsha Burley, Team Depot cap-
$25,000 gift card from the Home Depot. tain, and 10 colleagues completed the
Voting runs until noon Jan. 31.
majority of the work with a few vol-
The organization with the most votes
unteers. "I'm leaving part of my heart
will win the $25,000 prize and be in
here Burley said.
the running for the grand prize of
Project Build! projects are ongoing.
$250,000 at the end of the yearlong
Across the country, Home Depot
program. The runner-up organizations associates give back to their corn-
from each month will receive $5,000 in munities by volunteering with local
Home Depot gift cards.
nonprofit organizations, like Jewish
During the Aprons in Action con-
Family Service. The Aprons in Action
test, which began in April 2011,11
Program recognizes these successful
monthly winners will be selected. In
partnerships and gives each of the fea-
March 2012, Facebook fans will have
tured nonprofits the opportunity to do
the chance to help one of those 11
additional work with Team Depot vol-
winners win the $250,000 grand prize. unteers to better their communities.
The organization that receives the sec-
"Aprons in Action is our $1 mil-
ond and third most votes will receive
lion effort to support the most active
$150,000 and $100,000 from the Home and engaged nonprofit organiza-
Depot, respectively.
tions across the country:' said Kelly
In the January round of the com-
Caffarelli, president of the Home
petition, Jewish Family Service (JFS)
Depot Foundation. II
is competing against three other non-
More on Project Build!: go to www.
profit organizations from across the
ifsdetroitorgivolunteers/project-build.
country: Oregon Paralyzed Veterans
of America, Pilot Club of Denham
Springs and VFW Post 4127.
"Being selected for the Aprons in
How To Vote
Action Program is an honor:' said
Voting runs until noon Jan. 31.
Perry Ohren, CEO of JFS.
Aprons in Action is on Facebook at
"If we win the $25,000 Home Depot
www.facebook.com/homedepot or
gift card, we will be able to provide
at www.facebook.com/
home repairs and modifications for
homedepotfoundation. The final
many low-income and physically chal-
percentages of votes for each
lenged individuals in our community
nonprofit will be posted on both
over the next year. We encourage all to
Facebook pages at 9 a.m. Feb. 1.
go to Facebook and vote for us!"
For more information and to view
Working together, JFS' Project
the program rules, visit the Home
Build!, the Home Depot Foundation
Depot on Facebook or go to www.
and the local Home Depot Commerce
homedepotfoundation.org.
survivor or family will be given a remem-
brance of her inclusion in the exhibit.
Few survived Ravensbruck, the Nazi's
major concentration camp for women. The
faces of these triumphant women have been
immortalized by the late Florida artist Julia
Terwilliger in one of the newest exhibits of
Holocaust art to emerge today.
The exhibition centers around seven large
wooden panels with mixed media and photo
transfer images of Ravensbruck women,
young and old, survivors and those who
did not live. The collection contains rare
original artifacts from the camp, including
a handmade recipe book and gifts secretly
exchanged by the women. In addition, the art-
ist created a 10-foot memorial triangle.
"Women of Ravensbruck: Portraits of
Courage" was originally conceived in 2001
by Stephen Goldman, HMC executive direc-
tor, who was then director of the Florida
Holocaust Museum, and completed with
guest curator Dr. Rochelle G. Saidel.
Local Ravensbruck survivors can contact
Goldman at the Holocaust Memorial Center at
(248) 553-2400, Ext. 15.