Playwright Shirl Solomon To Visit Jewish Repertory Theatre For World Premier Of THE STRUDEL LADY

The Jewish Repertory Theatre of Western New York opens its 16th season with THE STRUDEL LADY, the story of Chava, an American-born, Jewish Orthodox wife and mother, who seeks to put her life back together when she is deserted by her husband and children. Embarrassed and confused about her identity and how to support herself financially, she seeks advice from a trusted older couple, who help her find independence, self-esteem and eventually love through her skill as a baker.

"We are looking forward to bringing audiences JRT's first musical in many years," says Saul Elkin, JRT Founding Artistic Director. "This is an entertaining and thought-provoking musical story about marriage and Jewish traditions and we're sure that audiences are going to 'eat it up!'" (Of note: strudel will be offered to audience members during intermission.)

JRT's production of THE STRUDEL LADY is also a World Premiere for playwright and composer Shirl Solomon. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Shirl attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and later studied at the Instituto de Allende, Mexico, before travels took her to the Canary Islands, Spain, Italy, Greece, Israel and Papeete, Tahiti where she studied painting with Paul Gaugain's son. Later in Florida, she became a courtroom artist and was assigned by NBC to render what became the last documented image of Howard Hughes, as described by the two pilots who were the last to see him alive while flying him from Mexico to Texas. "My tools range from pen and ink, water color, pastel and oils," says Solomon. "My religious works reflect my Jewish background, but mostly, I attempt to capture the romance, humor and floundering of humans."

In THE STRUDEL LADY, Shirl Solomon draws from her own family history to create the characters of Velvel, (played by Tom Makar) based on her own father who was an Orthodox Jewish Cantor and Faiga, (played by Mary Kate O'Connell) based on her own Orthodox Jewish mother who was "given" to Velvel in marriage. "My mother accepted the marriage arrangement as she was anxious to leave her Jerusalem ghetto and come with Velvel to America," says Solomon. "Their real life personalities truly reflect their stage roles."

THE STRUDEL LADY is directed by Saul Elkin and stars Lisa Ludwig, Tom Makar, David Marciniak, and Mary Kate O'Connell. Audiences who attend opening night will have the chance to meet Shirl Solomon, who now lives in West Palm Beach, FL, at the pre-show reception as well as onstage, when Solomon joins the cast and director for a post-performance theatre talk back.

The Jewish Repertory Theatre of Western New York is a program of the JCC of Greater Buffalo. This season's original artwork is created by artist Eta Rottenberg. For more information on JRT productions, dates and tickets, visit www.jewishrepertorytheatre.com. Tickets are available at 716-650-7626, through Showclix at 1-888-718-4253 (Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm EST) at either JCC member services desk and at www.jewishrepertorytheatre.com

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