THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO (January 2007)

Michael Close – Set design

For TEATRON: THE TENTH MAN. Michael has worked in the area of scenographics since 1979 and has a broad range of experience from scenic art to production design. Michael Close is also a professional artist who has had well over 70 solo and numerous group exhibitions with many shows at international levels. Toronto born and raised Michael Close is married to a former public art gallery curator; he has two young daughters who have already won many international art awards.

IRVING DOBBS - Actor: Adolph Freitag

Irving is delighted to return to TEATRON Theatre after playing Hellman in This Night and Schlissel in THE TENTH MAN. Born in Toronto, he is a graduate of Columbia University Theatre Arts Dept. Irving preformed wrote and directed “Royal Blues” variety show in the R.C.A.F. between flying duties as a pilot. In New York he appeared in productions of Coffee House, Yellow Jacket, Gold In The Hills, Evangeline, The Little Clay Cart, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. He adapted the book and stage managed the revival of the musical Belle Of New York and directed and appeared in the original musical Texas Is Tops. In Toronto Irving has appeared as Gordon in Dangerous Corner, Phil in Jitters, Ben (lead) in Norman Is That You?, and a principal role in the TV movie Transplant. He has written several musicals and had many of his songs recorded by various artists and used in a movie.

LORN EISEN – Actor: Joe Farkas

Lorn is pleased to return to TEATRON after being Joe in THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO. He was also seen on stage at the Toronto Centre For The Performing Arts as the lead role in Neil Simon's Come Blow Your Horn. He has appeared in numerous films and TV shows including Owning Mahowney, The Associates, Leap Years, and The 11th Hour. He is even Google-able. Lorn is excited to be part of this talented cast and he thanks them for putting up with him. Much thanks to his friends and family for the years of support, especially his Baba. His eye is still on the prize, but is the prize eyeing him?

Tamar Ehrlich - Properties

Tamar Ehrlich is delighted to be once more part of a Teatron production after being Props Mistress for THE CHOSEN & SISTERS ROSENSWEIG. Born in Poland, educated in France, Israel, England and Canada, Her interest in Theatrical "props" is an extension of work in sculpture, design and painting.

Jenna Harris – Actor: Sunny Freitag

Jenna is thrilled to be joining Teatron Theatre for the first time in this wonderfully touching ensemble piece. Originally from Kingston, Jenna moved to New York to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Some of her favourite NY theatre credits include: Top Girls, Rock Out (NYC International Fringe Festival), Women of Twilight, Ring Round the Moon and Much Ado About Nothing. Most recently, she performed in the Alumnae Theatre's production of Baby with the Bathwater, and on screen in the international feature film, Rainbow Raani. She gives much love and thanks to her family for their unwavering support, and to her brother Brent, who is, as you are watching this play, out traveling the world. Enjoy!

Vanessa Kobran – Actor: Lala Levy

After living in the United States for several years, Vanessa has returned to Canada and plans to stay. Theatre credits include: 2006 Toronto Fringe Festival Broken Record, Stage Won Miranda in The Tempest, ShakespeareWorks Romeo & Juliet, Rhubarb! Festival Medusa Moves, Alumnae Theatre New Works Festival Spadina Monologues, Alchemy Theatre Merry Wives of Windsor. Shakespeare Alive! in New York Thaisa in Pericles; Isabella in Measure for Measure; and Conrnelius in Cybleline. In Massachusetts: Shakespeare & Company, Mixed Company A Night at the Theater and Barrington Stage Company Grease; Dancing on Thin Ice. Her film credits include: Queen of the Zombie Punks, Dinner and a Movie. Vanessa is a certified actor-combatant. She has received acting training, from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Shakespeare & Company, and York University. Vanessa has had a fabulous time working with this cast!

Reva Lawry*- Actor: Reba Freitag

This is Reva’s debut performance with Teatron Theatre. Her career spans over thirty years. She appeared on the Wayne and Shuster shows, in numerous commercials, and studied with Michael Shurtleff in California. While in California she appeared in the day time series Capital. Reva also toured for nine years with Theatre on the Move, a children’s theatre. She produced and directed Neil Simon’s Come Blow Your Horn in Yiddish and English at the Limelight Dinner Theatre. A very special thanks to Ari and the cast and crew of Ballyhoo for this wonderful experience. I love you all.

Jason Morneau – Stage Manager

Jason grew up in Windsor, ON, until he moved to Toronto four years ago. After going to film school, Jason went into theatre staging managing productions such as, Biography the Game, fringe festival 06 Attack of the Intergalactic Middle Manager which won best of Fringe in NOW. The last two years he has been Technical Director of the Toronto Sketch comedy festival. Jason now works at the Gladstone Hotel and has put his own production on called, Yuk Jr. vs. the Olive Trio, a veggie tale of a radish avenging his father’s death against the olive trio who are made up of Pitt, Poke and their leader Poe. He now in production of his newest tale called Beautiful Days which will be present at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom in late April. He was pleased to work on this project and looks for to working on The God of Issac.

Daniel Sagavoy – Actor: Peachy Weil
Daniel has been acting since the age of 12, when he appeared in Me Myself & I, a collective creation about growing up. Daniel hasn't stopped since then, performing in such critically acclaimed Toronto and London Fringe productions as Joemosomo, and Blow This Popsicle Stand. More recently, he's been seen in the local Carribean sketch comedy show Carironto, where he plays the sole white visitor. When asked about his role as "the white guy", Daniel responded "it's the part I was born to play."

Candi Zell – Actor: Beulah "Boo" Levy

Acting is Candi's passion in life and she enjoys performing for film, television and voice recordings as well as theatre. Candi was privileged to play the rewarding and memorable role of Hanna in The Book of Ruth (Jewish Children's Theatre). Some of her other favourite theatre roles include The Dame in Snow White and the Several Dwarfs, Fifi Fluff in Morning of a Private Eye, and Pauline in the Prisoner of Second Avenue. Candi has performed five times in plays at the Toronto Fringe Festival. She played Pete’s Mom in YTV’s System Crash and has been in numerous films and recordings. She is delighted to be playing Boo and to be part of the talented cast of this award winning play. Candi thanks Ari for giving her this wonderful opportunity and everyone involved in the production for their help and support.

* appearing with the permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Ari Weisberg - DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

Ari’s directorship and design credits include EDMOND, THE MELVILLE BOYS, THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY, MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, THIS NIGHT, THE CHOSEN, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, HOME OF THE BRAVE, THE TENTH MAN, THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, THE GOD OF ISAAC, CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER, CHAIM’S LOVE SONG. A GLIMPSE OF THE LIGHT and THE DYBBUK Ari is the founder and artistic director of TEATRON Toronto Jewish Theatre. He worked for 18 years as a director and a producer for television in Kingston, Ontario. Later he was able to come back to his first love, live theatre.

Teatron Toronto Jewish Theatre | Office 41 Warwick Ave. Toronto ON M6C 1T7 | 416-781-5527 | info@teatrontheatre.com