DECEMBER 5 • 2024 | 51 attended with a Jewish boyfriend in New York, has worked with Lewis for 15 years. Their stage projects have included those for the discontinued Performance Network. Both have extensive theater careers, and Lewis has been involved with musical programs in New York and Washington, D.C. Founding artistic director of Theatre NOVA, Milarch has had a lengthy stage career and has brought some 25 new plays to audiences. She founded the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance after studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy and SUNY (State University of New York) Purchase. Milarch worked as an actress and behind the scenes in and out of Michigan. Her awards include being noted for “Outstanding Contributions to an Ensemble” by the Detroit Free Press. Lewis, who earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University, remains associated with Eastern programs and wrote the music for all the original songs. Besides being associated with The Encore, which is known for bringing musical theater programs to schools, he has been musical director for Gypsy at the Hangar Theatre in New York state and composed music for performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. “There’s a lot of tying into Judah the Maccabee, and we do a lot of fun stuff,” Milarch said. “Kids come up, and we teach them how to play the dreidel game. There’s candy. We have a lot of silliness, tons of music and tons of fun.” Milarch has directed more serious plays with Jewish characters and/ or plots. They include My Name Is Asher Lev, Fortune and one about Albert Einstein. “The themes of resistance and standing up for your identity mean a lot to me,” Milarch said. “We decided to do this show again because Chanukah is late this year, and we can lead up to it as we get into the time when the show closes. “We had planned to do this before the local bout of antisemitism, and then we thought if there’s a good time to stand up to antisemitism, now is that time.” As time passes along this theater season, the 10th, the other new shows include Kairos (Feb.14-March 16), Eclipsed: The Sun, the Moon and Gladys Atkinson Sweet (April 11-May 11), Jorge Luis Borges Gives a Lecture on Anatomy (June 6-July 6), Radical Empathy (Aug.1-31) and Michigan Playwrights Festival (Sept. 10-14). Scenes from a former show Details The Elves and the Schumachers Two: Chanukah Boogaloo is being performed Dec. 6-Jan. 5 at Theatre NOVA, 410 W. Huron, Ann Arbor. Times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. $32 adults; $12 for those 16 and younger. Theatre NOVA.org. Buying or Selling? We Specialize in Active Adult Country Club and Beachside Communities Advantage Plus 601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432 Elly & Ed Lepselter (561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com ® Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Beyond! Advantage Plus 601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432 Elly & Ed Lepselter (561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com COME TO FLORIDA IN THE NEW YEAR Buying or Selling? We Specialize in Active Adult Country Club and Beachside Communities ® Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Beyond! Advantage Plus 601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432 Elly & Ed Lepselter (561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com Buying or Selling? We Specialize in Active Adult Country Club and Beachside Communities ® Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Beyond! Advantage Plus 601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432 Elly & Ed Lepselter (561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com Call Today! FLORIDA It’s Your Move Select Group 6905 SW 18th St. Boca Raton, Florida 33433 Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach & Beyond!