The J’s Cultural Arts Theatre Presents “Crossing Jerusalem” February 10-21

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - Jan. 25, 2016 - PRLog -- JCAT presents the powerful drama Crossing Jerusalem by Julia Pascal.  The audience enters twenty-four hours in the life of an Israeli family in March 2002, as they cross Jerusalem at the beginning of the latest intifada. A complex family drama explodes in the most politically tense city in the world.

Director Michael Andron, saw the original production in London in 2003, where he was on a theatre trip with a group of high school students. The group met with playwright Julia Pascal  to discuss the play.  Adam Schwartzbaum, who was on that trip, is a member of the current cast.

According to Andron, “This play is not not about the intifada, per se. The political situation sets the stage for multiple families each confronting long held ideas, shared realities, deep secrets and the discovery of what’s really important.  Any balanced season of theatre should have plays that make us laugh, make us cry and get us thinking. At various moments, this play has all three of those elements.”

He quotes  the late Alan Rickman , who said, “... A film, a piece of theater, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world. (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alanrickma4571...)”

This play includes  a group of actors who have worked with Andron on both the JCAT and Hillel stages. These include  Eileen Ginzburg (Cuckoos Nest, Steel Magnolias), Harry Marsh (Inherit the Wind, Rumors), Brian Goldberg, (Doubt, Rumors, Boys Next Store) and  Yossi Yativ (Dracula, Golda).

Those who worked with Andron as students ( Liat Zippin, who has acted in over 40 productions with Andron), Adam Schwartzbaum and Jenna Niefeld now bring a whole new adult perspective to their roles. Recent graduate Kevin Hincapie recently  starred in the JCAT-Youth production of  Hairspray. This is his JCAT- Community debut.

The play contains mature themes and language.

Julia Pascal is a playwright and theatre director. She was the first woman director at the National Theatre. Her stage plays have been produced internationally and have won prizes.

She trained as an actor and worked at The Royal Court Theatre, The National Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, The Royal Shakespeare Company, BBC Television and radio. Films include The Hiding Place and the independent prize-winning feature Ham and The Piper.

Her dramas are published by Oberon Books, Faber and Samuel French (Inc).

As a theatre director she has worked widely in London, France and has twice had her work shown in New York City. Her awards have included a NESTA Dreamtime Fellowship, an Alfred Bradley BBC Award and she has been a Writer in Residence at the University of York and the Wiener Library.

Michael Andron  is the Founding Artistic Director of JCAT, the J’s Cultural Arts Theatre, in NMB, now in its 9th season, Oconee Community Theatre in SC, now in its 43rd year,  and the Hillel Community Theatre in NMB for 20 years. He appeared in the long running, off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, in its original home on Sullivan Street andwill be reprising his role as the old actor (Henry) later this season at JCAT.  He has taught at New World School of the Arts, North Carolina School of the Arts, and at New York University’s Department of Educational Theatre.

JCAT is the performing theatre of the Michael-Ann Russell JCC, a year- round program for youth, teens, and adults, where participants are part of a magical world of theatre, with a full season of productions, theatre camps, and a wide range of classes and workshops in acting, improvisation, and technical theatre. JCAT is committed to challenge, enlighten, educate, and entertain its audiences through its multi-tier program.