Called Up to Life

-legends of the Baal Shem Tov- 

June 11-27, 2010
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm , Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm
Gaithersburg Arts Barn
311 Kent Square
Gaithersburg, MD.  

 For reservations, call (301) 258-9364.

This is an original, klezmer musical by award-winning composer Art Levine
directed by Stan Levin. 

The Baal Shem Tov (BESHT), a charismatic rabbi, became a mythic figure in middle Europe in the 18th Century. The stories about the BESHT are the stuff of folk legend.  When he prayed, grain would jump in barrels.  His heart would beat so loudly that people could hear it.  In Called Up to Life, friends in 18th century Italy entertain themselves during the Sabbath by sharing tales of the BESHT.  An elderly stranger appears  one Sabbath, claiming to have known the BESHT.  Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. However, his mind is clouded, so the others share their stories to prod his memory, leading to a spell-binding resolution.

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Mara Bayewitz - Giovanna/Frumeh Leah
Thomas Copas - Luigi/Avraham
Gary Fackenthall - Simcha/Baal Shem Tov
Susan Ostrinsky - Gianetta/Rebbetsen/Anuta
Tony Pisarra -Marco/Dov Baer
Marc Rehr - the Rosh Yeshiva/Reb Gershon
Dave Robinson - Giuseppe/Jacob Josef/Reb Hirsch
Ed Silverstein - Guido/Menachem Mendel/Reb Chayim/Reb Feldman
Bill Spitz - Simon the Wanderer
Trish Weiler - Antonia/Feiga 

 Click here to see photographs of the cast and creative team..