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The Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in association with Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus Theatre Arts Department presents
by Stephen Mo Hanan and Jay Berkow April 26 – May 20, 2007 |
 Marc Moritz as “Al Jolson” |
| Winner of 2 ‘Times Newspaper Tribute Awards for Outstanding Theatre 2007’ Roy Berko, Times Theatre Critic Acting – Kristin Netzband Lighting Designer – Trad A Burns |
| Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News review… by Fran Heller, contributing writer ”The standing ovation at the show’s end is deserved. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet until you see this terrific production.” “amiable and entertaining” “pizzazz” ”Audible humming from the audience began with the very first song, Swanee.” “a sensational tour de force performance by the multitalented Moritz” ”if you close your eyes, you can almost hear the Jolson sound …that’s how close Marc Moritz gets to becoming Al Jolson” ”Moritz flourishes as the complex, brash and egocentric Jolson, whose phenomenal success hid a lifetime of insecurity and neediness” “A dream design team and Fred Sternfeld’s laser direction deliver a class act from start to finish” “George Roth and Kristin Netzband do yeoman’s work portraying 17 characters drawn from Jolson’s tumultuous life” ”Netzband proves quite the hoofer in a tap-dance routine with Moritz” ”Excellent George Roth adds real definition to a variety of characters, beginning with radio host Barry Gray and including Jolson’s harsh Poppa, sibling rival Harry, and a smooth-talking Hollywood producer.” ”After Keeler, whose star is rising, dumps him, Jolson puts on blackface (the only time in the show), as if to hide his pain. As Moritz artfully applies the black makeup, he takes refuge behind the metamorphosis. He then launches into “My Mammy,” a song of heartbreak and loss, which brought down the house” ”The musical includes two imaginary scenes between Jolson and Mae West (a delicious impersonation by the spunky Netzband). Their duo, “April Showers,” is a highlight in a show awash with high moments” ”Richard Gould’s rotating tripartite set creates the different scenarios in Jolson’s life from a recording studio and assorted dressing rooms to a Hollywood producer’s sumptuous poolside patio and army headquarters” ”Richard Ingraham’s sound effects, Trad A Burns’s lighting, and Aimee Kluiber’s panoply of costumes are spot on” “The three-piece orchestra, under the reliable direction of Larry Goodpaster at keyboard, provides the perfect musical backdrop” |
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Cast of Characters Al Jolson – Marc Moritz* Actor 2 – George Roth* (Barry Gray, Poppa, Harry Jolson, Lew Dockstader, Lloyd Bacon, Chuck DiAngelo, Colonel Webster, Harry Cohn and Morris Stoloff) Actor 3 – Kristin Netzband * member – Actors’ Equity Association VIEW BIOGRAPHIES OF THE CAST & PRODUCTION STAFF |
 Marc Moritz as “Al Jolson” |
Excerpts from the Chagrin Valley Times review… by Bob Abelman “…it works marvelously…” “can not help but entertain … entice … enlighten” “Fortunately, in the current Jewish Community Center production of Jolson & Company, Marc Moritz is playing Jolson … Mr. Moritz wisely chose to capture the essence of the man.” “… he marvelously succeeds in channeling Jolson’s powerful presence, abrasive personality and the sheer pleasure he derived from performing in front of a live audience.” “Mr. Moritz owns the stage when he sings and his acting holds the audience captive for the duration of the show. He is extraordinarily entertaining…” “George Roth and Kristin Netzband are phenomenal” “The versatile and talented Mr. Roth plays all the men in Jolson’s life, and plays them with conviction. He seamlessly changes character and is incredibly adept at making each distinctive and interesting” “Ms. Netzband, who plays all the women, is a force to be reckoned with, particularly when she takes on the persona of Mae West. In this role, her charming “April Showers” duet with Jolson is the highlight of the production. Both performers are good enough to steal the show and disciplined enough not to. “ |
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Production Staff
Producer / Director – Fred Sternfeld Associate Producer – Brian Zoldessy Music Director – Sean Szaller Orchestra Director – Larry Goodpaster Choreographer – Martin Cespedes Set Designer – Richard Gould Costume Designer – Aimee Kluiber Lighting Designer – Trad A Burns Sound Designer – Richard Ingraham Technical Director – Carl David Skorepa Stage Manager & Properties – Deanna Caudill Assistant Stage Managers – Darcy Lindner, Steven Shack Scenic Artist – Heather Cool |
 Marc Moritz as “Al Jolson” and Kristin Netzband as “Mae West” |
 Marc Moritz as “Al Jolson” and George Roth as “Barry Gray” |
 Kristin Netzband as “Ruby Keeler” and Marc Moritz as “Al Jolson” |
 Marc Moritz as “Al Jolson” and George Roth as “Harry Cohn” |
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View many more pictures
in a slideshow format at this link |
| ABOUT THE PLAY:
This musical tells the story of America’s greatest entertainer during his years as a star in the 1920s and his comeback in the 1940s. While Al Jolson recalls colorful moments from his life during an interview, two (or possibly more in this production) actors play all of the other characters, including some show business luminaries and his wives, Ruby Keeler among them. The vivid memories about his mother, vaudeville, Broadway, feature films and five marriages together with unforgettable renditions of “Swanee,” “You Made Me Love You,” “Sonny Boy,” “California Here I Come,” “April Showers,” “Mammy” and other Jolson standards made this sparkling bio musical a hit Off Broadway and in London. |
| Excerpts from the Times Newspaper review… by Roy Berko “Entertaining” “There are enough “Yiddish” illusions to capture the older members who attend JCC productions and know and love Jolson”“Mark Moritz, who plays Jolie, has a good singing voice … his sound is appealing” “Kristin Netzband, as the female member of the three-person cast, is appealing in multi roles. She is especially delightful as Mae West and on-target as Ruby Keeler. She sings extremely well and her dancing is excellent” “George Roth, as always, is on target in each of his characterizations. The Times Theatre Tribute Award winner changes voices and facial expressions and makes bodily adjustments to fit each of his nine characters” “Larry Goodpaster and his three piece “orchestra” efficiently back up the performance” “Capsule judgement: ‘JOLSON AND COMPANY’ will be a pleasant trip down memory lane for those who know and appreciate the musical sounds of Al Jolson” |
| Excerpts from the Cleveland Scene review … by Christine Howey “solid work from the three-person cast” “This is a show that needs an electrifying performance in the pivotal role, and Marc Moritz as Jolson does a thoroughly respectable job. His baritone is powerful and rich, with many of the little curlicues that Jolie incorporated in his vocal stylings.” “Playing an assortment of supporting roles, George Roth and Kristin Netzband are generally spot-on, quickly creating identifiable characters from Jolson’s life. Netzband is particularly amusing as Mae West, telling Jolson — after he waxes rhapsodic over his mammy — “I never had a mother; some jerk took advantage of my aunt.” “… this Jolson is a carefully sketched portrait” |
| Feature – Cleveland Jewish News “Cavalcade” by Violet Spevack You made me love you … Multitalented Marc Moritz, singer, actor, master teacher at Cleveland Improv Institute and lots more, wowed audiences last week with his fabulous performance as legendary singing star Al Jolson in JCC’s production of “Jolson & Company,” held at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus.It was sheer enjoyment for this columnist who has followed Moritz’s career across stages in Chicago and New York City, in the JCC’s successful production of “Ragtime, the Musical,” to Riverside Shakespeare, to his appearance in numerous radio and TV commercials. It has been light years since Moritz was the appealing, eager young student in my class at Temple Emanu El. I well recall his bar mitzvah in 1969. Who could ever dream that this kid would someday star on stages around the country? I caught up with Moritz after his luminous performance, and we reminisced a bit. His parents, Eleanor and Leon Moritz, still live in the same house in Lyndhurst where he grew up. Marc went to Brush High School before graduating from Kent State University with a major in theater. He’s continuing his impressive career back in Cleveland with his wife Rachel Kay, a midwife, and their darling children Sarah, 7 (a student at Agnon School), and Joseph, 4, because “this great city is where we want to raise our children.” So Moritz and I embraced warmly once again as he said, dramatically, of course, “I’ll always remember Lady Violet Spevack as my biggest fan in Cleveland who has kept in touch with me through the years.” To which I responded, “Shouldn’t there be a song in this somewhere?” |
