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The Jewish Community Center of Cleveland
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Winner of a ‘Times Newspaper Tribute Award for Outstanding Theatre 2006’ Roy Berko, Times Theatre Critic Acting – Jeanne Task |
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 Jeanne Task as “Mary” |
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Excerpts from The Cleveland Plain Dealer review by Zachary Lewis “3-generation tale has appeal for all audiences” “almost everyone will relate somehow to the touching depiction of generational overlap”“tastefully directed production” “stars Jeanne Task in a sympathetic portrayal of Mary” “poignant” “Barbara Haas crafts an impressive and sensitively nuanced arc from young motherhood through elderliness as Bessie, the family’s respected and surprisingly complex matriarch” “genuinely affecting” |
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 Barbara Haas as “Bessie” |
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Link to a feature story about playwright James Sherman in the Friday, May 5, 2006 edition of the Cleveland Jewish News |
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 publicity picture Barbara Haas as “Bessie,” Jeanne Task as “Mary” and Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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| Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News review by Fran Heller“a winning production” “gifted actors” “a heartwarming experience that feels entirely fresh and new” “a trio of superb actors”“Task delivers the performance of a lifetime as the obedient daughter Mary, caught between the status quo and women’s lib. Her richly textured portrayal captures the different stages of Mary’s life — from dreamy-eyed high-school student to nurturing wife, mother, and caretaker of aging parents to grieving widow — with a naturalness that is achingly funny and poignant” ”Equally memorable is the excellent Haas” “Haas visibly transforms herself from bossy, overprotective mother to a bent-over, elderly parent who needs help getting in and out of a chair. She also handles the Jewish dialect with credible ease””Completing the triad is the dynamic Conway, who adds such verve and spice as the fiercely independent daughter Deborah” “Conway perfectly captures the frustration and stress of a young woman trying to have it all” ”these terrific actors … find the humanity and the universality underneath. Each is a joy to watch” |
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 Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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Production Staff
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Director & Producer
Associate Producer Scenic Design, Technical Director Light Design Costume Design Sound Design Stage Manager / Light Board Operator Sound Board Operator Student Intern House Manager CCC East in-house TD |
Fred Sternfeld** Brian Zoldessy Ben Needham Keith Nagy Alison Garrigan Richard Ingraham Darcy Lindner Bruce Amsel Abe Hegewald Judie Amsel Martin Bluestein |
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 publicity picture Liz Conway as “Deborah” and Jeanne Task as “Mary” |
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| Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News review by Fran Heller“sparkling production” ”The three women play off each other without skipping a beat. The continual shifts in the age and stage of each woman’s life could be confusing, but Sternfeld’s airtight direction and well-articulated character development keep the progression humming” ”Alison Garrigan’s costumes add further definition to the generational changes” ”The title refers to the Hebrew prayer “l’dor v’dor,” which means “from generation to generation.” A backdrop of doors in Ben Needham’s witty set design illuminates the play on words” ”From Door to Door runs about 100 minutes without an intermission, but Sternfeld’s direction is so flawless, that the time flew” |
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 Barbara Haas as “Bessie,” Jeanne Task as “Mary” and Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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Cast of Characters
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Mary
Deborah Bessie |
Jeanne Task Liz Conway Barbara Haas* |
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* – member – Actors Equity Association ** – member – SSDC, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers |
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 publicity picture Jeanne Task as “Mary,” Barbara Haas as “Bessie” and Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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| ABOUT THE PLAY: From Door to Door is a funny, touching tribute to three generations of women in America. Mary Goodman is mourning the loss of her husband after 50 years of marriage. She reflects back on her life as a daughter, wife and mother searching for a vision of her own identity. Mary is trapped between status quo and women’s lib. Growing up in Roosevelt times, she became a wife and mother surrendering her gift for painting and any thought of a career. Her mother Bessie immigrated from Eastern Europe, married a man chosen for her, kept her accent, cooked gefilte fish and lived in fear. Mary’s daughter Deborah gets to be herself, but must learn to balance living in the contemporary world and carrying on a legacy. From Door to Door brings new meaning to the song, “L’Dor V’Dor” (From Generation to Generation). Spanning 70 years of history, this poignant family comedy reveals what binds and divides them, the changing roles of women and the constant power of family love. |
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 publicity picture Barbara Haas as “Bessie” and Liz Conway as “Deborah” photography by Fred Sternfeld |
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| Excerpts from the Free Times review by James Damico “affecting and humorous” “Returning veteran Barbara Haas manages the broad range of Bessie’s ages effortlessly and convincingly, and is particularly precious in her testy old crab incarnation” “The talented Liz Conway gives us a hearty, good-hearted Deborah” “Sneakily standing out is Jeanne Task’s Mary, who is deceptively and unexaggeratedly menschy, without any overwrought thespian gestures or appeals for affection. As always, it’s a reassuring pleasure to see Mrs. Task back on a stage, where she decidedly forever belongs” |
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 Jeanne Task as “Mary” and Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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| Excerpts from Times Newspaper review by Roy Berko (Member, American Theatre Critics Association) ”The JCC production is nicely paced by director Fred Sternfeld. The flashbacks and flash forwards could get confusing as Sherman’s writing stratagem has left little time for costume changes. Sternfeld has handled this potential problem very well and the time eras are clear” ”Jeanne Task developed the nuances … she clearly understands the role of mother and wife. She “Liz Conway…was excellent” ”Ben Needham’s creative set design, which consisted of a series of interlocking doors on various levels, was |
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 Barbara Haas as “Bessie” and Jeanne Task as “Mary” |
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| Excerpts from Sun Press review by Teddi Gibson-Bianchi “warm, fuzzy” “pleasant” “amusing” “a strong cast”“at it’s heart, it is about a family’s relationship, one that’s as sweet and sour as the cabbage soup that brews on Bessie’s stove. The bonds of their love are strong, but not without some tartness” “Undoubtedly, the play will ring some bells with anyone who finds herself – much to her surprise – quoting her own mother years later” “a very likable cast” “Jeanne Task does yeowoman’s work as Mary, hardly offstage for a second, and she, Barbara Haas as Bessie and Liz Conway as Deborah all bring an affection and empathy to their roles” |
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 Barbara Haas as “Bessie.” Jeanne Task as “Mary” Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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Excerpts from Chagrin Valley Times review by Herb Hammer “touching” “brilliant moments” “Mary, played excellently by Jeanne Task” “Barbara Haas is stunning” “poignant ending” |
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 Jeanne Task as “Mary” and Liz Conway as “Deborah” |
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Furniture courtesy of Kitay’s Furniture & Design
5055 Richmond Road Bedford Heights, OH 44146 216-220-5014 phone 216-595-9885 fax |
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Check out playwright James Sherman’s website. |
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