THE CHOSEN (November 2004)

a drama by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok.

* Appears with the permission of Canada Actors' Equity Association

David Frisch* – REUVEN MALTER

THE CHOSEN is David’s debut with TEATRON, reprising his critically acclaimed turn at the role from the 2002 production with Winnipeg Jewish Theatre. Last summer, he produced and acted in the highly successful Toronto Fringe Festival staging of BELOW THE BELT, set in a working factory. (“Outstanding Ensemble” and “Outstanding Use of an Unusual Performing Space” –NOW Magazine) Other recent roles: Sandor Turai in THE PLAY’S THE THING - Georgian Theatre Festival, a schools tour of northern Ontario with Magnus Theatre, and Saul Kimmer in TRUE WEST - Theatre In Port, (St. Catharines). His favourite roles include Nick in HOMEWARD BOUND - Illinois Theatre Centre, Truscott in LOOT - The Alley Theatre (Boston), and Benedick in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival. Television work has included appearances on shows such as WILD CARD, MUTANT X, SUE THOMAS F.B. EYE and TWICE IN A LIFETIME. He also does voiceover work, and assists in high school workshops with Shakespeare Works.

Neil Steen – YOUNG REUVEN

Neil is a recent graduate of the York University Fine Arts Acting program. Since then, Neil has performed in several Toronto productions including: THE SOLDIER DREAMS (Dark Thirty), A LIE OF THE MIND (Starry Night Theatre) and LION IN THE STREET. Neil hails from Winnipeg, where he performed at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Neil Simon's LOST IN YONKER and MACBETH. Neil's first professional engagement was in the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre production of LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME. Neil is thrilled to be a part of TEATRON’s production of "The Chosen".

Benjamin Blais – DANNY SAUNDERS

Benjamin is very pleased to be playing the role of Danny in this production. His most recent theatre roles were: Albert Einstien in PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE (City Centre Theatre), Jean-Paul Sarte's, NO EXIT; Max Fishbaum's THEORIES ON LOVE (2002 Fringe Festival); and Landford Wilson’s’ BURN THIS (Tuesday Productions). Currently Benjamin is working on a number of film projects due to be released early next year. Benjamin has studied theatre for the past nine years. He attended the theatre conservatory Studio 58 in Vancouver. Benjamin would like to thank his friends and family and all of those who have supported him.

Herb Goldstein – REB SAUNDERS

Herb took up acting in 1988. In 1990 he won the Quebec Drama Festival Award as “Best New Performer Under 25” for his role in GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM, although they had to waive the age limit in his case. After much stage and some screen work in Montreal, he came to Toronto about seven years ago. Selected theatre credits in Toronto include: THE SECOND TIME AROUND, ON GOLDEN POND, JEST A SECOND, BEAU JEST FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - Encore Productions, and WELCOME TO SUNNYVAL ACRES - Alumnae Theatre.

Jonathan Siegel – DAVID

Jonathan found a new freedom in acting last year with his Teatron debut in The Chosen. For TEATRON he played Doctor, Captain Bitterger in HOME OF THE BRAVE. For the Jewish Children's Theatre he played the `Cook' in The Book of Ruth. A psychologist in private practice, Jonathan continues to gravitate to the thrill of live theatre and the opportunity to memorize lines as a prophylatic measure to halt cognitive decline with the passage of years.

Leor Herman – Sound and Lighting Designer

Leor was born and raised in North York. He went to high school at AY Jackson, where he first developed an interest in theatre, specifically the technical aspects. After high school, Leor earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree at Ryerson University, studying Radio & Television Arts.

Scott MacKay – STAGE MANAGER

Teatron Debut. Selected Stage Management credits include THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR - Alchemy, EVERY NIGHT’S HOT AT THE VA VA VOOM Twitchin' Productions, A TASTA NEW YOWARK - Lotsa Fun Productions, RICE PUDDING - Groiler 182, BLACKMAIL & BURNT NORTON - Tiral and Eros at Dance Makers, CORPUS CHRISTI - Taglarc. Mr. MacKay is a classically trained musician and symphonic conductor having studied at McMaster University and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Aaron Posner - DRAMATIST

Aaron is a co-founder and the Resident Director of Philadelphia's award-winning Arden Theatre Company where he has directed more than 40 productions over the last 16 years. He has directed nine plays by Shakespeare, three by Craig Wright, two by Shaw and a bunch of others, too. His adaptations of literature include Who Am I This Time? by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., What Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, Echoes of the Jazz Age by authors from the 20's, Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons and Third & Indiana by Steve Lopez. His adaptation, with Chaim Potok, of The Chosen was originally presented by The Arden and Pittsburgh's City Theatre and won the 1999 Barrymore Award for Best New Play. It has since been produced all around the country. Aaron directs at other theatres across the country (The Folger Shakespeare Library, Actors Theatre of Louisville, etc.) teaches at the University of the Arts, is a philanthropic consultant, and even acts occasionally. He is originally from Eugene, Oregon, graduated from Northwestern University, and dropped out of Southern Methodist University. He is also proud to be an Eisenhower Fellow.

Chaim Potok - DRAMATIST is best known for his 8 novels, beginning with the blockbuster first, The Chosen, followed by The Promise, My Name is Asher Lev, In the Beginning, The Book of Lights, Davita's Harp, The Gift of Asher Lev, and his last, Old Men at Midnight, a trilogy of novellas. He also wrote two children's books and stories for young readers. Moon in the collection Zebra and Other Stories won an O. Henry prize in 2000. Many of his essays and opinion pieces were published in scholarly journals as well as in the popular press. His non-fiction books, Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews, Gates of November: The Slepak Chronicles, and My First 79 Years: A Biography with Isaac Stern, attest to the breadth of his literary ouvre. An accomplished artist, editor, teacher/lecturer, Chaim Potok fully entered the world of drama when he was asked by Carol Rocamora, producer/director of the Philadelphia Festival of New Plays, to adapt some of his work for the stage. His first play comprised two one-act works, based on scenes from The Promise and My Name is Asher Lev, which he titled The Sins of the Father. His next was a more ambitious two-act play based on The Book of Lights, which he titled The Play of Lights. An earlier musical stage version of The Chosen has a short run in New York in 1988. He considered that enterprise his apprenticeship as a playwright, though he had written the screen treatment for the 1981 film adaptation of his classic novel. He enjoyed the collaboration with Aaron Posner on the writing of The Chosen as a stage drama.

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.

(as appeared at time of production)

Teatron Toronto Jewish Theatre | Office 41 Warwick Ave. Toronto ON M6C 1T7 | 416-781-5527 | teatron@sympatico.ca