For Immediate Release, October 25, 2006

Media Contacts: Devra Aarons (TJT Managing Director)

415/522-0786 x 300  devra@atjt.com

Traveling Jewish Theatre’s 28th Season (2006/07)
Features New Take on an American Classic
Travels to Venues in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Mountain View
and
Welcomes New Associate Members

S.F. Mime Troupe, Pickle Family Circus, and Dell’Arte Players veteran Joan Mankin to direct Naomi Newman in solo Rose, January 4 – February 25, 2007

Arthur Miller’s Jewish Identity explored in new interpretation of Death of a Salesman, April 5 – June 10, 2007

Both TJT shows to be performed in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Mountain View

SAN FRANCISCO: In the first main-stage production of Traveling Jewish Theater’s 28th season, company co-founder Naomi Newman stars in Martin Sherman’s one-woman play, Rose. Best known for his Tony-nominated play, Bent, playwright Sherman expands his theatrical representation of the Jewish experience with his “Rose,” a twice-widowed 80-year-old woman who takes the audience on a restless journey through 20th century Jewish life: from her childhood in a Ukrainian shtetl, to a Warsaw ghetto, to Atlantic City, and finally Miami; with side trips to a hippie commune in Connecticut and an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.

Directed by TJT Associate Artist Joan Mankin, of San Francisco Mime Troupe, Pickle Family Circus, and Dell’Arte Players fame. Rose plays in three Bay Area cities from January 4 – February 25, 2007: Opening in San Francisco at Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida St., for a four-week run, January 4 –28, 2007; moving to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., for two weeks, February 1 –11, 2007; and ending in Berkeley at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., for the final two weeks, February 15 – 25, 2007. Rose is sponsored by the Holocaust Center of Northern California (HCNC).

Next, in the centerpiece of the new season, TJT engages with an American classic: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Why is TJT, with its 28-year history of producing original, company-created works and new plays, taking on such a well-known, iconic work? TJT Artistic Director Aaron Davidman says, “Miller’s critique of the ‘American dream’ is more timely now than ever. Miller was incredibly prescient in sensing the damage that out-of-control capitalism can do to the spirit. Using TJT’s ensemble approach, we will investigate new dimensions of the play, while absolutely respecting Miller’s text.”

Davidman will direct, and company co-founder Corey Fischer will star as Willy Loman. Fischer says, “So much has been written about why Miller chose to make the Lomans generic ‘Americans’— and leave out his own Jewish background. However, if you think of Willy as a first-generation American Jew, the play opens up in some surprising and beautiful ways.”

Fischer adds, “After years of working on new material, there’s a different kind of excitement in engaging with a work that has decades of associations and assumptions around it. We hope to challenge what people think they know about the play.”

Salesman also features new TJT Associate Artist Jeri Lynn Cohen — a charter member of the Word for Word Performing Arts Company, and veteran cast member of productions at A.C.T. and Berkeley Repertory Theater.

NOTE: NEW SAN FRANCISCO VENUE! Salesman tours the Bay Area for 10-weeks, from April 5 – June 10, 2007: Opening in San Francisco at Theatre Artaud, 450 Florida St., for a four-week run, April 5 – 29; then moving to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., for three weeks, May 3 – 20; and ending its run in Berkeley at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., for the final 3 weeks, May 24 – June 10.

TJT’s 28th Season launched in October 2006 with two workshop readings of new plays, co-commissioned by the Magic Theatre/Z Space New Play Initiative. First up is a new eight-person play by TJT co-founder Naomi Newman, Torn Ribbons. Set in an unnamed village during wartime, Newman’s play explores how war damages the bodies, souls, and psyches of soldiers and families, as they struggle with the demands for retribution and the hopes of reconciliation. The second play, Moving is a collaboration between TJT Artistic Director, Aaron Davidman and Israeli playwright Ro’i Rashkes. A love story set in New York City on the eve of 9/11, the play continues TJT’s ongoing commitment to Israel-Diaspora dialogue. Also, The Wonders returns this year as part of TJT’s Educational Touring and Outreach Program. The play brings the American Jewish experience to life through three women’s stories: an immigrant Yiddish actress, a Southern beauty queen, and a young contemporary playwright. The piece tours nationally during the 2006/07 Season, through a grant from the Righteous Persons Foundation.

Visit the website at www.atjt.com or call 415-522-0786 for further information, to buy tickets, or to purchase a subscription.

ATTENTION CALENDAR EDITORS: Traveling Jewish Theater’s 28th Season (2006/07)
MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS
ROSE
Written by Martin Sherman
Starring Naomi Newman as Rose
Directed by Joan Mankin
Runs January 4 – February 25, 2007

Opening January 4 – 28, 2007
at Traveling Jewish Theater
470 Florida Street (between 17th & Mariposa), San Francisco
Continuing February 1 – 11, 2007
at Mountain View Center
500 Castro St., Mountain View
Closing February 15 – 25, 2007
at The Ashby Stage
1901 Ashby Ave. (at MLK, across from Ashby BART), Berkeley
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Written by Arthur Miller
Starring Corey Fischer as Willy Loman
Directed by Aaron Davidman
Runs April 5 – June 10, 2007

Opening April 5 –29, 2007
at Theater Artaud (NEW VENUE!)
450 Florida Street (between 17th & Mariposa), San Francisco
Continuing May 3- 20, 2007
at Mountain View Center
500 Castro St., Mountain View
Closing May 24 – June 10, 2007
at The Julia Morgan Center
2640 College Ave., Berkeley

Tickets: $15 – $45 (Discounts available for groups of five or more, seniors, and students)
Showtimes: Thursdays–Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm and 7pm
Additional 2pm matinees on final Wednesdays in each location: January 24, February 7 and 21, April 25, May 16, and June 6; All shows close with 2pm matinees on final Sundays in each location:
**No 7pm shows on January 28, February 11, February 25, April 29, May 20, or June 10**
Box Office: 415-522-0786


FALL NEW PLAY WORKSHOP READINGS

Traveling Jewish Theatre’s New Play Workshop Readings
Co-commissioned by the Magic Theatre/Z Space New Works Initiative


Torn Ribbons by Naomi Newman

Monday, October 23, 2006 at 8pm
at Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida Street (between 17th & Mariposa), San Francisco

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 8pm
at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. (at MLK, across from Ashby BART), Berkeley


Moving by Ro’i Rashkes and Aaron Davidman

Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 7pm
at Neto Caffe, 135 Castro St., Mountain View


Monday, October 30, 2006 at 8pm
at Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida Street (between 17th & Mariposa), San Francisco



Tickets: FREE (reservations required)
Box Office: 415-522-0786.