Songs and Celebration: An Evening of Songs from Jewish Composers, a fundraiser for the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, will feature many stars of Canadian musical theatre.
The lineup includes the cast of Jersey Boys; The Sound of Music’s Maria, Elicia MacKenzie; Theresa Tova; Michael Burgess and others.
A one-night-only event at the Jane Mallet Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on Nov. 16, Songs and Celebration is “sure to be one of the most memorable performances of the company’s history,” said the theatre’s co-artistic director, David Eisner.
“Never before have we done something like this,” he said in a recent interview.
Hosting the fundraiser will be comedians Colin Mochire (of Whose line Is It Anyway?) and Deb McGrath (of Little Mosque on the Prairie).
“We are so fortunate to have a stellar group of performers and entertainers to host,” said co-artistic director Avery Saltzman. “It’s interesting, because our biggest names aren’t even Jewish, which shows that, despite us trying to reach out to educate Jews about their roots through entertainment, ultimately we want to create a dialogue with everyone.”
Saltzman and Eisner are hoping the fundraiser will raise the theatre’s profile.
“We have over a dozen talented Canadian stars, each bringing a unique ability to perform, so it has to be a great show,” Eiser said.
“It’s easy for people to write a cheque and walk away, but to come out to a live event shows people’s true support. And it’s an incredible opportunity for them to see the great product we offer.”
Saltzman and Eisner anticipate larger audiences this year, as Harold Green Theatre enters its fourth season.
“We’ve worked really hard to gather the best talent out there and put together some amazing shows,” Saltzman said.
The season opened on Oct. 13 with Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears, starring Theodore Bikel as he reflects upon the life of author Sholom Aleichem with comedy and music.
February features Yichud (Seclusion), a comedy about the struggles of an Orthodox couple’s traditional lifestyle in a modern world. The season concludes in May with The Soul of Gershwin, a show that takes the audience on a journey through Gershwin’s ethnic musical influences to the accompaniment of a klezmer band. The show features 23 of Gershwin songs.
“We really tried to cater to all levels of Judaism and cultural interests,” Saltzman said. “Our goal is… to be a voice and home for the Jewish people of Toronto.”
Eiser said that the Harold Green Theatre’s presence in the city is a necessity.
“Montreal’s had [a Jewish theatre] for a long time, and Toronto has so many Jews, it’s about time they have a home too,” he said. “And since not everyone likes the same material, we try to mix it up with some comedy, some history, music.
“Some productions are more political or religious, some are less. But every show has content that appeals and respects everyone so we can all become connected.”
Saltzman sums up the theatre’s mandate with one word: “accessible.”
“It’s about being a resource for people who need a means to gather and unite,” he said.
“Certainly, we’re here to entertain, but there’s no better way than when we’re doing something productive by educating as well.”
Saltzman and Eisner, both actors for the past 30 years, have big plans for the theatre’s future.
“We want a school for aspiring actors, a library of Yiddish music and history,” Eiser said.
The co-artistic directors said they owe much to philanthropist Harold Green and his family, who donated both time and resources to help Saltzman and Eisner create the theatre.
But Saltzman and Eisner also know that much more support is required if they are to achieve their goals.
“We need more than a single family,” Eiser said. “We need a community.”
For tickets to Songs and Celebration, call 416-366-7723.
