WOMEN'S MINYAN to Play Boca Raton's B'nai Torah, 2/3

Naomi Ragen's powerful play, Women's Minyan resonates as deeply today as it did when it premiered in July 2002 at Habima National Theater in Tel Aviv. A powerful and fascinating exploration of religious fundamentalism in a patriarchal society, the play is based on a true story. Women's Minyan will be performed at Boca Raton's B'nai Torah on February 3, 2016 in the Weiner Auditorium.

Chana Sheinhoff, is the respected Rabbi's wife in an ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem. After years of abuse by her husband, she breaks her silence only to find herself excommunicated and forcibly separated from her twelve children. She convenes a 'minyan' (a quorum) of women asking them to decide her worthiness to be reunited with her children. Hearing for the first time what led to her divorce, this group of women explores the boundaries between religion and social convention, truth and falsehood, and women's true place in the religious world.

Producer Shari Upbin, one of the driving forces behind B'nai Torah's Theatre Arts Series, will direct Women's Minyan. The production will feature Faiza Cherie as Chana Sheinhoff, along with Rene Barrett, Fern Katz, Abby Linker, Peggy Linker, Ellie Murray, Clelia Patrizio, Renee Rogoff, Phyllis Spear, and Skylar Voelker. Jeffrey Bruce will provide the voice of the Rabbi.

Sound design for the production is by Carbonell Award-winner Matt Corey and lighting design is by Sean Cutler, Artistic Director of Ft. Lauderdale Children's Theatre and winner of the 2015 BroadwayWorld.com Best Director of a Musical award. Live music will accompany the production.

Women's Minyan has received universally rave reviews whenever and wherever the play has been produced, and praise for Upbin's production of the play, which ran at the West Boca Theatre Company at the Levis Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton in November 2012 was unanimous.

Women's Minyan will run for one performance, only - on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2015, at 7:30 pm at Congregation B'nai Torah in Boca Raton. Tickets are $36 ($25 for congregational members), and may be purchased by calling 561-392-8566 or on line at www.bnai-torah.org. Group rates are available.