by Joseph Stein, Charles Strouse & Stephen Schwartz


The Halle Theatre at the Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, 1999

Gregory Violand as “Nathan” & Kathryn Wolfe Sebo as “Rebecca”

Excerpts from The Free Times review

“A sensitively crafted, yet gustily vibrant, production”

“As he proved decisively with last season’s Fiddler on the Roof, director Fred Sternfeld has a singular talent for fresh conceptions of overdone projects. He appears to rethink such works from their most human aspects, and then calls on his exceptional ability to activate and individualize large groups of characters to bring those qualities to life”

“Sternfeld has artfully shaped his whopping cast of 40 –which, with less skillfull handling on the Mayfield JCC’s modest stage, could easily degenerate into an amorphous mosh pit mob — as the piece’s thematic essence and its main collective protagonist”

“There are, of course, leading storyline roles. Yet, in the director’s persuasive scheme, they repeatedly emerge from and compellingly symbolize the much more meaningful group”

“…the director augments dialogue scenes by always keeping visible the ongoing neighborhood activity. Pushcart peddlers, gesticulating pedestrians, playing kids, gossiping women — all the vital components of street life form a continuous silent chorus and context from which the main characters take their significance”

“A striking approach”

James Damico, Cleveland Free Times 1999


Cindi Verbelun, Don Squires, Cassie Hart, Patrick Carroll, Kathryn Wolfe Sebo, Harriet Siebert, Alex Wyse, Jan Tuttle, Adina Bloom, Paul Floriano, Nan Delzani & the company

Excerpts from The Sun Press review

“An undeniable resonance”

“It all meshes amazingly well in JCC’s heartfelt and celebratory revival”

“The score offers some lovely moments, which director Fred Sternfeld and the engaging cast use to full advantage”

“And under Sternfeld’s skilled direction, there’s hardly a snag in the action: the teeming streets and tenements of New York’s lower East Side spring to life on the small stage”

Teddi Gibson-Bianchi, The Sun Press


Kat Garson as “Bella,” Alex Wyse as “David” and Kathryn Wolfe Sebo as “Rebecca”

Excerpts from The Cleveland Jewish News review

“a triumph”

“Rags excels”

“Director Sternfeld works magic with a large cast”

“delights the eye, captivates the ear, and nourishes the soul”

“wonderful voices”

“innovative staging”

“don’t miss it”

Marilyn H. Karfeld, Cleveland Jewish News, 1999


Keith Gerchak as “Ben” and “The Company”

Excerpts from The Cleveland Scene review

Fred Sternfeld “excels at the comic and grotesque, and he’s not afraid to go out on a limb”

Rags is a “pleasing musicalized go-around”

“emotionally lavish”

Keith Joseph, Cleveland Scene 1999


Tina Stump as “Fruit Seller,” Adina Bloom as “Rachel” and Paul Floriano as “Avram”

Cast of Characters

Homesick Immigrants
Rebecca Hershkovitz
David Hershkovitz
Bella Cohen
Benjamin Levitowitz
Avram Cohen
Ellis Island Guards
Medical Inspectors
Recruiters, Money Changers, Train Ticket Vendors

Anna Cohen
Jack Cohen
Landlady
Newspaperman
Saul Stein
Mr. Bronstein
Sweatshop Workers

Klezmer Street Singer
Laundress
Sid the Violinist
Rosa Caravelli
Rachel Halpern
Nathan Hershkovitz
Big Tim Sullivan
Mike
Irish Tenor
Sophie
Barbershop Quartet

Morris
Morris’ Mom
Irish Girl
Italian Tenor
Mrs. Sullivan
The Cantor
Hershel Cohen

Adina Bloom, Larry Sheir
Kathryn Wolfe Sebo
Alex J. Wyse
Kat Garson
Keith Gerchak
Paul Floriano*
Patrick Carroll, Jack Warren
Nan Delzani, Jan Tuttle
Scott Plate, Gregory Violand, Larry Sheir, Glenn Powers
Laurel Milcoff Hart
Donald A. Squires
Nan Delzani
Adam P. Hoffman
Scott Plate*
Donald N. Krosin
Theresa Babrauckas, Tina D. Stump, Kaila Michaels, Nan Delzani, Sharon Richman Young,
Sandra Emerick
Adam P. Hoffman
Sharon Richman Young
Ted Smeltz
Sandra Emerick
Adina Bloom*
Gregory Violand*
Patrick Carroll
Jack Warren
Charles Eversole
Tina Stump
Patrick Carroll, Larry Sheir, Jack Warren,
Matthew Lillo
Danny Venezuela
Sharon Richman Young
Roxanne Rahamim
Matthew Lillo
Nan Delzani
Larry Sheir
Adam P. Hoffman

Immigrants, Peddlers, Customers, Affluent Americans, Strikers
Abraham Lev Weiss, Adam P. Hoffman, Adina Bloom, Amy Kaufman, Carole Kaufman, Cassie Hart, Cindi Verbelun, Danny Venezuela, Donald A. Squires, Donald N. Krosin, Elya Beer, Emily Baron, Glenn Powers, Gregory Violand, Harriet Siebert, Jack Warren, Jacob Crows, Jan Tuttle, Jessica Brick, Jo Kirschenbaum, Josh Greene, Kaila Michaels, Katherine White, Kat Garson, Larry Sheir, Laurel Milcoff Hart, Matthew Lillo, Nan Delzani, Patrick Carroll, Paul B. Abramson, Rachel Zake, Roxanne Rahamim, Sandra Emerick, Scott Plate, Sharon Richman Young, Sy Levine, Ted Smeltz, Theresa Babrauckas, Tina D. Stump
Hamlet Company
Gregory Violand (Hamlet), Nan Delzani (Gertrude),
Donald A. Squires (Rosencrantz),
Patrick Carroll (Guildenstern),
Sandra Emerick (Ophelia), Sy Levine (Laertes

*member — Actors’ Equity Association


Keith Gerchak as “Ben” and “The Company”

Production Staff
Producer
Director & Choreographer
Assistant Director
Additional Choreography
Music Director & Conductor
Stage Manager
Rehearsal Assistant
Technical Director
Set & Lighting Designer
Costume Designer
Sound Amplification Designer
Sound Effects Designer
Props Procurement
Wig & Hair Designer
Lisa Kollins
Fred Sternfeld
Donald A. Squires
Randi Wyler Sternfeld
Melissa Fucci
Janine Wochna*
Jan Tuttle
Tony Kovacic
Keith Nagy
Meg Parrish
Robert L. Horn
Casey Jones
Kalin Stipe
Winn Douglas


Gregory Violand as “Nathan,” Alex Wyse as “David” & Kathryn Wolfe Sebo as “Rebecca”

Orchestra
Conductor
Violin
Clarinet, Saxophone
Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Trombone, Tuba
Synthesizer
Synthesizer
Bass
Percussion
Melissa Fucci
Ted Smeltz
Kim Taylor
Bret Hiler
Andy Williams
Mary McBennett
Mike Eschhofen
Tim Keo
Rob Ticherich


In loving memory of
Diane Sue Sternfeld Jones
October 15, 1954 — January 23, 1999


This production of Rags is dedicated to the memory of my sister Diane, who passed away after a three year battle with ovarian cancer.