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January 09, 2014 - Image 34

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 2014-01-09

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

arts & entertainment

L'Chaim! from page 33

Fiddler again," Miller says. "Unfortunately,
we couldn't get the rights for a couple of
years because it was being staged close to
our area."
Fiddler, which had its original pre-
Broadway tryouts at Detroit's Fisher
Theatre, is set in a 1905 Russian village
and tells the story of dairyman Tevye,
who attempts to maintain traditions in a
changing world.
Miller explains that the Bloomfield
Players started under the leadership
of the Department of Recreation and
Community Services of the Bloomfield
Hills Schools. Eleven years ago, the the-
ater group was told it would have to be
independent and organized as a nonprofit.
"We had to start generating our own
income and come up with alternative
ideas," says Miller, who joined the group
in its beginnings at the suggestion of his
wife and daughter and got hooked after
winning the role of Harold Hill in The
Music Man, the first production. "Instead
of two shows a year, we are doing one
show.
"We've had more than 1,000 people in
the casts and crew, and we've entertained
thousands of people.
"Normally, we do two weekends, but
we're only doing one weekend with four
shows. We used to alternate between
Andover and Lahser, but because Andover
is closed, we could only get space at the
other school for one weekend."

Among the productions have been The
in college intending to go into television
Wiz, Crazy for You and Anything Goes.
production, he became a sales manager.
Debby Portney, board secretary and a
For a time, he volunteered to help with
Fiddler producer, appreciates the diversity school productions at North Farmington
of the people who participate and respond High School.
to open audition calls.
"Members of Bloomfield Players work
Portney, a gynecologist who also has
very hard" says Lefton, a B'nai B'rith
been active with Adat Shalom Synagogue
bowler who auditioned at the suggestion
in Farmington Hills,
of friends. "I've seen
connected with
a lot of talent in this
Bloomfield Players
group, and it's been a lot
10 years ago as her
of fun"
daughter performed in
Noah Eisenberg,
the chorus.
a student at Detroit
"People of all ages
Country Day School,
and ethnicities come
wants to be an actor and
together because of
appreciates the oppor-
their love for musical
tunity to play Motel the
theater" says Portney,
Tailor.
who is organizing all
"I went to Stagedoor
aspects of this year's
Manor, a perform-
show. "They make
ing arts camp [in the
friends while provid-
Cattskills1, and take
Larry Miller as the butcher
ing a service for the
voice and dance les-
Lazar Wolf and Mitch Master as
community, and it's
sons" says Noah, whose
Tevye
in the Bloomfield Players
wonderful to see peo-
family belongs to
production of Fiddler on the Roof
ple happily working
Congregation Shaarey
together.
Zedek in Southfield.
"I also love to see the self-confidence
"I've always loved theater, and I'm excited
the children gain from being in our pro-
to be in this show"
ductions as well as the opportunity it pro-
While the actors and most of the people
vides for quality family time:'
behind the scenes volunteer their time
Mitchell Lefton, who portrays the rabbi, and talents, there is payment for the cre-
is in his first musical with Bloomfield
ative team of director, choreographer and
Players. Although he was a speech major
music director and conductor.

As opening night gets close, rehearsals
can run three hours during four days a
week. Miller says everyone just has a good
time.
Mitch Master, director of performing
and visual arts at Frankel Jewish Academy
in West Bloomfield, is preparing to play
Tevye while Shannon Williams portrays
Golde.
Miller auditioned for Tevye as well as
Lazar Wolf.
"I heard Mitch sing 'If I Were a Rich
Man' and asked the director not to consid-
er me anymore Miller says. "I knew he
was right for Tevye. Being on stage with
Mitch and singing 'To Life' together is one
of the best times I've had in the 20 some
shows I've done"
Udi Kapen, a physician who is board
president, reveals in a newsletter that the
group is planning an anniversary celebra-
tion apart from the play. It should include
present and former participants. ❑

Bloomfield Players will perform

Fiddler on the Roof Jan.16-19

at Bloomfield Hills High School
(formerly Lahser High School),
3456 Lahser Road, in Bloomfield
Hills. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m.
Sunday. $12-$15. (248) 433-0885;
bloomfieldplayers.org .

Jews

Nate Bloom

Special to the Jewish News

At The Movies

Opening on Friday, Jan.10, in Detroit
is Her. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, 39,
as Theodore Twombly, a soulful man
who makes a living writing heartfelt
personal letters for others. After a bad
breakup, he comes across a new com-
puter operating system with a female
voice, called "Samantha" (voiced by
Scarlett Johansson, 29).
Twombly is delighted when
Samantha's programming allows her to
be intuitive, insightful and even funny.
Their friendship grows into love.
This is the first film director Spike
Jonze, 44, has written alone. It is
a top contender
for Golden Globes
and Oscars, just
like his three prior
feature films (Being

Jonze

34

John Malkovich,
Adaptation and
Where the Wild
Things Are).

January 9 • 2014

JN

Opening the same day is Lone
Survivor, about a 2005 Navy SEAL

series, miniseries
or TV movie: Josh

mission whose aim was to capture or
kill a Taliban leader. Director Peter
Berg, 51, also wrote the script. It co-
stars Ben Foster, 33.

Charles, 42, The
Good Wife and
Corey Stoll, 37,
House of Cards.

Golden Tribe
The 2014 Golden Globe Awards, host-

Other film cat-
egories: Best
director: David

ed by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, will
air live on NBC Sunday, Jan.12 (the
preshow runs 7-8 p.m., and the main
telecast is from 8-11 p.m.).
Here are the Jewish nominees in
the acting categories:
Film nominee: best actor in a
motion picture, musical or comedy:
Joaquin Phoenix, Her; TV nomi-
nees: best actress, drama: Julianna
Margulies, 47, The Good Wife: best
actor, drama, Liev Schreiber, 46,
Ray Donovan; best actress, musical
or comedy: Lena Dunham, 27, Girls;
best actor, musical or comedy, Andy
Samberg, 35, Brooklyn Nine-Nine;
best actor, miniseries or TV movie:
Michael Douglas, 69, Behind the
Candelabra; best supporting actor,

Stoll

0. Russell, 55,
American Hustle; best screenplay:
David 0. Russell, American Hustle,
and Spike Jonze, Her; best original

song, motion picture: Taylor Swift and

Jack Antonoff , 29, "Sweeter Than
Fiction" (from One Chance, about a

Brit talent show). Antonoff is best
known as the guitarist for Fun., the
popular rock band.
Best film and TV series awards go to
the principal producers. Here are nomi-
nees in those categories with a Jewish
director, screenwriter or TV creator.
Film, drama: Philomena (directed by
Stephen Frears, 72) and Rush (written
by Peter Morgan, 50); film, musical or
comedy: American Hustle (director/
writer David 0. Russell), Her (direc-

tor/writer Spike Jones) and Inside
Llewyn Davis (directed/written by
Joel, 59, and Ethan, 56, Coen).
Best TV series, drama: The Good
Wife (created by husband and wife
Robert (not Jewish) and Michelle King,
50; best TV series, musical or com-
edy: The Big Bang Theory (created by
Chuck Lorre, 61, and former Detroiter
Bill Prady, 53), Parks and Recreation
(created by Greg Daniels, 50) and
Girls (created by Lena Dunham).
Best TV movie/miniseries:
American Horror Story: Coven (creat-
ed/co-written by Glee's Ryan Murphy
and Brad Falchuk, 41) and Dancing on
the Edge, a five-episode series about
a 1930s black jazz band in Britain
(written and directed by Stephen
Poliakoff, 61, long a top figure in qual-
ity U.K. TV). Made for the BBC, the
series played on Starz about a month
ago and is now available via Starz on-
demand viewing.
Finally, the Cecil B. DeMille Award
for outstanding contributions to
entertainment will be given to Woody

Allen.

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